A nurse is called into the supervisor’s office regarding deteriorating work performance since the loss of a spouse 2 years ago. The nurse begins sobbing and says, “I’m falling apart at home as well.” Which type of grief is the nurse experiencing?

Choice A reason: Asking if the patient is reliving trauma targets a core PTSD symptom—intrusive memories or flashbacks—critical for diagnosis per DSM-5 criteria. This question helps identify PTSD’s psychological impact, guiding interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy or SSRIs. Prioritizing this ensures timely recognition of PTSD, addressing the patient’s sleep disturbances and trauma-related distress effectively.

Choice B reason: Asking when the patient wakes up provides limited insight into PTSD. While sleep timing may indicate disturbances, it doesn’t address specific PTSD symptoms like intrusive memories or hyperarousal. This question is less urgent, risking delayed identification of PTSD, which requires targeted psychological assessment to guide therapy and medication for trauma-related nightmares.

Choice C reason: Describing phobias is irrelevant to PTSD assessment, as phobias are distinct anxiety disorders. PTSD involves trauma-specific symptoms like flashbacks, not generalized fears. This question misdirects focus from trauma-related sleep issues, potentially delaying PTSD diagnosis and appropriate interventions like trauma-focused therapy, leaving the patient’s nightmares and distress unaddressed.

Choice D reason: Asking about chest pain assesses physical symptoms unrelated to PTSD’s psychological profile, which includes nightmares and intrusive thoughts. While chest pain could indicate anxiety or cardiac issues, it’s not a priority for suspected PTSD. This question risks overlooking trauma-related symptoms, delaying psychological evaluation and support critical for the patient’s mental health recovery.

Choice A reason: Knowing involves understanding the patient’s experiences and needs, not actively forming a care plan together. Enabling focuses on empowering the patient through collaboration, as seen here. Assuming knowing risks underemphasizing the patient’s active role, potentially limiting empowerment and self-efficacy critical for colostomy care acceptance and management.

Choice B reason: Doing for involves performing tasks for the patient, not collaborating on a plan, as with enabling. The nurse’s joint planning empowers the patient to manage colostomy care. Assuming doing for overlooks patient autonomy, risking dependency and reduced confidence in self-care, critical for long-term colostomy management and adaptation.

Choice C reason: Enabling, per Swanson’s caring theory, involves facilitating the patient’s capacity to manage their care through collaboration, as seen in forming a colostomy care plan together. This empowers the patient, fostering confidence and acceptance. Enabling supports self-efficacy, critical for psychological adjustment and practical management of a new colostomy, enhancing patient outcomes.

Choice D reason: Maintaining belief sustains hope and values but doesn’t involve collaborative planning, unlike enabling. The nurse’s focus is empowering practical colostomy care, not spiritual support. Assuming maintaining belief misaligns with the action, potentially neglecting the patient’s need for active involvement in learning and adapting to colostomy self-care.