A nurse is caring for a newly admitted client who has bacterial meningitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A reason: Telling the daughter not to worry dismisses her emotional concerns and does not facilitate open communication. Addressing fears about a loved one’s death requires empathy and discussion to process grief and understand hospice care, which focuses on comfort. This response is inappropriate, as it avoids addressing the daughter’s needs.
Choice B reason: Acknowledging the daughter’s concerns about her mother’s death and inviting discussion is therapeutic. It validates her emotions, encouraging open dialogue about grief, hospice care, and end-of-life expectations. This approach supports psychological coping, aligns with palliative care principles, and helps the daughter prepare for her mother’s transition, making it appropriate.
Choice C reason: Discussing the mother’s cancer and its implications helps the daughter understand the disease progression and hospice care’s role in symptom management. This fosters informed communication, addressing fears and clarifying expectations. It supports emotional preparation for end-of-life discussions, making this response appropriate for facilitating understanding and coping.
Choice D reason: Encouraging the daughter to avoid thinking about dying dismisses the reality of the situation and hinders emotional processing. Hospice care involves preparing for end-of-life, and open discussions about death are therapeutic. This response is inappropriate, as it discourages necessary conversations about the mother’s condition and prognosis.

Choice A reason: Frequent swallowing is a key indicator of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage, as the child may swallow blood from bleeding in the surgical site. This subtle sign requires urgent assessment to prevent airway obstruction or significant blood loss, aligning with clinical priorities, making it the correct finding.
Choice B reason: Increased drowsiness may indicate pain medication effects or general recovery but is not specific to hemorrhage. While concerning, it is less urgent than frequent swallowing, which directly suggests bleeding, making this finding less indicative of hemorrhage in this context.
Choice C reason: Elevated pain is expected post-tonsillectomy due to surgical trauma and does not specifically indicate hemorrhage. Pain may persist regardless of bleeding, so this finding is less reliable than frequent swallowing for identifying potential hemorrhage, making it incorrect.
Choice D reason: Diminished breath sounds suggest respiratory complications like atelectasis or obstruction, not hemorrhage. Bleeding would more likely present with swallowing or visible blood. This finding is unrelated to tonsillectomy hemorrhage, making it an incorrect indicator for this complication.