A nurse is reinforcing teaching to a newly hired nurse about anencephaly. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

A. "The Courageous Parent's Network is an international organization that promotes palliative care." While the Courageous Parents Network does provide education and support for families facing serious illness, it is not classified as an international organization. It primarily focuses on U.S.-based resources and advocacy.

B. "The Pediatric Palliative Care Group will help pay for burial expenses for those who lose a child." There is no widely recognized organization under this name that specifically funds burial expenses. While some charitable groups may assist with end-of-life costs, this is not a defining feature of pediatric palliative care organizations.

C. "The Compassionate Friends Group provides behavioral health counseling services." The Compassionate Friends is a well-known bereavement support organization that provides peer-led support groups rather than formal behavioral health counseling services.

D. "Grief counseling is a key component of bereavement care." Bereavement care includes emotional and psychological support, with grief counseling playing a vital role in helping families cope with loss. Many organizations emphasize grief support as a crucial part of palliative and end-of-life care.

A. “I will give you the names and contact information of a few good counselors. Talking to a professional is very helpful." While counseling can be beneficial, immediately directing the parent to therapy may feel dismissive of their immediate distress. A more supportive and solution-focused approach, such as discussing respite care, directly addresses the caregiver's burden.

B. “Taking care of anyone with complex medical needs can be very overwhelming. What has your healthcare team told you about respite care?” This response validates the parent's feelings while offering a practical solution. Respite care can provide temporary relief for caregivers, allowing them time to rest and recover, which can reduce burnout.

C. "You seem to be under a lot of stress. Have you tried reading self-help books on coping with stress?" While self-help books may provide general coping strategies, this suggestion does not acknowledge the immediate emotional burden the parent is experiencing or offer direct assistance.

D. "Has something changed with your child's health condition? You can usually handle taking care of them. I will schedule a follow-up appointment with their provider to see what is going on.” Assuming the parent can "usually handle" caregiving may invalidate their struggle. Additionally, suggesting a medical follow-up for the child rather than addressing the caregiver’s needs misses the core issue of caregiver stress.