A patient recently lost her spouse and says, “I don’t know how I’m going to live without him.” Which of the following responses by the nurse is nontherapeutic?

This must be incredibly hard for you.

Tell me more about what you’re feeling right now.

You’ll feel better soon, just give it time.

I’m here for you; let’s talk about what you’re going through.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Expressing empathy, such as acknowledging the difficulty of the loss, fosters a therapeutic connection. It validates the patient’s emotions, encouraging open expression of grief, which is essential for processing loss and aligns with therapeutic communication principles, making this choice therapeutic.

Choice B reason: Asking the patient to elaborate on their feelings is a therapeutic open-ended question. It promotes exploration of emotions, facilitating grief processing by engaging the patient’s prefrontal cortex in reflecting on their experience, making this a therapeutic response and incorrect for the question.

Choice C reason: Saying “You’ll feel better soon” minimizes the patient’s grief, dismissing their current emotional state. This nontherapeutic response can inhibit emotional expression, as it implies a timeline for grief recovery, potentially disrupting the patient’s natural mourning process, making this the correct choice.

Choice D reason: Offering support and encouraging discussion is therapeutic, as it builds trust and validates the patient’s experience. This response engages the patient in processing grief, supporting emotional regulation through empathetic communication, making it a therapeutic response and incorrect for the question.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Disenfranchised grief occurs when a loss is not socially acknowledged, such as in a non-traditional relationship, preventing open mourning. This leads to suppressed emotions and potential psychological distress, as the individual feels isolated in their grief, making this the correct choice for the described scenario.

Choice B reason: Anticipatory grief occurs before an expected loss, such as during a terminal illness, where individuals mourn in advance. The scenario describes grief after a death, not before, and the issue is lack of social recognition, not anticipation, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Complicated grief involves prolonged, intense grief that impairs functioning, often with unresolved emotions. While the woman’s sadness is significant, the key issue is the inability to mourn openly due to social stigma, not prolonged grief, making this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Chronic grief refers to persistent grief without resolution, often over years. The scenario does not indicate a prolonged duration but rather the social barrier to mourning a non-recognized relationship, aligning with disenfranchised grief, not chronic grief, making this choice incorrect.

A. Do you have a plan to hurt yourself? B. What usually helps you feel better when you’re down? C. Can you describe how long you’ve been feeling this way? D. Why do you feel that way?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Asking about a specific plan to hurt oneself is a critical closed-ended question to assess suicide risk in depression. It identifies intent and means, guiding immediate safety interventions, as suicidal ideation with a plan increases risk, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Asking what helps the patient feel better explores coping strategies, not immediate safety. While useful for long-term management, it does not directly assess suicide risk, which is critical given the patient’s statement, making this choice less urgent.

Choice C reason: Inquiring about the duration of feelings provides context but does not directly assess immediate suicide risk. Understanding chronicity is secondary to evaluating intent and plans, which are critical for safety in depression, making this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Asking “why” explores the reasons for suicidal thoughts but is open-ended and less focused on immediate safety. Closed-ended questions about specific plans are more effective for rapid risk assessment in depression, making this choice incorrect.

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A patient recently lost her spouse and says, “I don’t know how I’m going to live without him.” Which of the following responses by the nurse is nontherapeutic?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A woman experiences deep sadness after the death of her “side-piece,” but she feels unable to openly mourn because their relationship was not recognized openly. The nurse identifies this as an example of:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient with depression tells the nurse, “Sometimes I think people would be better off without me being alive.” Which closed-ended question should the nurse ask next to assess the patient’s safety?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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