A nurse cared for a terminally ill client for over a month and developed a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. After the client's death, feelings of sadness. sleeping poorly, and feeling mildly depressed were experienced by the nurse. Which is the best action to improve the resolution of grief?

The nurse needs to consider taking a leave of absence to pursue healing.

The nurse needs to seek therapy for dysfunctional grief.

The nurse needs to use stress reduction strategies.

The nurse should seek an informal forum for discussing death

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

The nurse's feelings of sadness, poor sleep, and mild depression after the death of the terminally ill client indicate that the nurse is experiencing grief, which is a normal reaction to loss. However, if the nurse is finding it difficult to cope with the grief or if the grief is significantly impacting the nurse's daily life and well-being, seeking therapy is the best action.

Option B suggests seeking therapy for dysfunctional grief, which can provide the nurse with professional support and coping strategies to navigate through the grieving process. Therapeutic interventions can help the nurse process the emotions associated with the loss and provide a safe space to express and explore feelings of grief and loss.

Options A, C, and D may be helpful in certain situations, but they may not directly address the nurse's unresolved grief:

A. Taking a leave of absence to pursue healing can be considered if the nurse's grief is severely impacting their ability to function and provide safe patient care. However, it may not be necessary for everyone, and seeking therapy would be a more specific and targeted approach to address the grief.

C. Using stress reduction strategies can be beneficial for managing stress and promoting overall well-being, but it may not directly address the specific grief experienced by the nurse after the client's death.

D. Seeking an informal forum for discussing death can be helpful in processing feelings and emotions related to death and loss. However, it may not provide the level of support and guidance that therapy can offer in resolving grief.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Using active listening techniques and providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment can promote the client's ability to express their feelings. Many clients facing end-stage illnesses, such as alcoholic cirrhosis, may experience a range of emotions and find it difficult to talk about their illness or impending loss of life. By being present, attentive, and using silence when appropriate, the nurse allows the client the space and time they need to process their thoughts and emotions and feel comfortable expressing their feelings when they are ready.

Incorrect:

Option A may come across as confrontational and judgmental, which can hinder the client's willingness to share their feelings.

Option C may be appropriate if the client requests spiritual or religious support, but it should not be assumed as the primary intervention for promoting emotional expression.

Option D can be seen as dismissive and insensitive to the client's emotional needs, and it may not be helpful in encouraging the client to open up about their feelings.

A. Anticipatory grief B. Disenfranchised grief C. Complicated grief D. Absence of grief

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Anticipatory grief refers to the emotional response and mourning that occurs before an actual loss or death. In this case, the client is grieving the loss of the pregnancy due to the decision to have an elective abortion. The grief arises from the anticipation of not being able to have the child at this time, even though they may want to have children in the future.

B- Disenfranchised grief: Disenfranchised grief refers to a type of grief that is not openly acknowledged or socially validated. It occurs when a person experiences a loss that is not commonly recognized or is not socially accepted. In this case, the client's grief is not disenfranchised because the loss of an unintended pregnancy through elective abortion is openly acknowledged and socially accepted.

C- Complicated grief: Complicated grief, also known as prolonged grief or unresolved grief, occurs when a person experiences intense, prolonged, or incapacitating grief that doesn't seem to improve over time. It can be a result of traumatic loss or when the person has difficulty accepting the reality of the loss. The client's grief over the elective abortion does not necessarily indicate complicated grief since it is a normal response to the loss of the pregnancy.

D- Absence of grief: Absence of grief would mean that the client is not experiencing any emotional response or sorrow after the elective abortion, which is unlikely in this situation. The client is crying and expressing emotions, indicating the presence of grief.

In summary, the most appropriate choice for the client's experience is "Anticipatory grief" since the client is grieving the loss of the pregnancy before it actually occurred due to the timing of the pregnancy not aligning with their plans.

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A nurse cared for a terminally ill client for over a month and developed a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. After the client's death, feelings of sadness. sleeping poorly, and feeling mildly depressed were experienced by the nurse. Which is the best action to improve the resolution of grief?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client with end-stage alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver is hesitant to talk about the illness and the impending loss of life from their alcohol use disorder. Which action by the nurse can promote the client's ability to express their feelings?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A client has just had an elective abortion to end an unintended pregnancy. Afterward, the client cries because although they wanted to have children in future years, this pregnancy was not well timed. Which type of grief is this client most likely to experience?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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