A nurse in an acute care facility is caring for a preschool-age child who is terminally ill and receiving palliative care. The parents tell the nurse that they have decided to take their child home. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A. This statement may minimize the neighbor's grief by suggesting that time will automatically make things easier. While time can help with the grieving process, it is important to acknowledge and validate the neighbor's current feelings.

B. This statement may unintentionally invalidate the neighbor's grief by implying that he should be happy because his wife is no longer suffering. It disregards the neighbor's current emotional state and may not provide comfort.

C. This statement acknowledges the neighbor's gesture and his shared love of gardening with his wife, Helen. It validates his grief and provides an opportunity for the nurse to express her own appreciation for Helen's expertise, which may help the neighbor feel understood and supported.

D. This statement may pressure the neighbor to suppress his emotions and put on a façade of happiness, which could be detrimental to his grieving process. Additionally, suggesting what Helen would want may not be helpful in this situation, as grief is a personal and individual experience.

A. Final: This option does not correspond to any stage of the grieving process or Kubler-Ross's stages of dying.

B. Acceptance: In Kubler-Ross's stages of dying, acceptance is the final stage. When a dying patient verbalizes that they are "ready," it suggests they have reached a level of acceptance regarding their impending death.

C. Bargaining: Bargaining is a stage where individuals attempt to negotiate or make deals to change the outcome of their situation. It typically occurs before acceptance in the stages of dying.

D. Denial: Denial is one of the initial stages where individuals refuse to accept the reality of their situation. It does not correspond to a dying patient indicating they are "ready."