An appropriate nursing diagnosis for the family of a client dying of cancer whose members have expressed sorrow over the forthcoming loss would be

Choice A rationale

Anticipatory grieving is a normal psychological process of acknowledging and preparing for an expected loss. The family's expression of sorrow and crying directly indicates their emotional response to the impending death of their loved one, aligning with the defining characteristics of anticipatory grieving. This diagnosis acknowledges the family's current emotional state in relation to the anticipated loss.

Choice B rationale

Dysfunctional grieving implies an abnormal or maladaptive grief response. Age regression, while a potential manifestation of extreme stress, is not a typical or expected behavior in anticipatory grief. Without further evidence of significantly impaired functioning or prolonged, intense reactions disproportionate to the situation, labeling the grieving as dysfunctional is not supported.

Choice C rationale

Potential for grieving suggests a risk for developing grief, but the family members are already actively expressing sorrow, indicating that grieving has commenced, not just a potential for it. While crying is an expression of sorrow associated with grieving, insomnia, without further context, is a non-specific symptom and does not solely indicate anticipatory grieving related to loss.

Choice D rationale

Dysfunctional grieving, as mentioned before, implies a maladaptive response. While anxiety can be a component of grief, behaviors solely indicating anxiety do not necessarily define dysfunctional grieving related to the loss of a family member. The family's primary expression is sorrow, which is a typical component of anticipatory grief, not necessarily dysfunctional.