The focus on quality of life issues is best implemented by:

Option C is the best response because it acknowledges the patient's feelings of being a burden on her family and encourages her to express her concerns further. By asking the patient to describe what she means by burden, the nurse demonstrates empathy, active listening, and a willingness to understand the patient's perspective. This approach opens the door for therapeutic communication and allows the nurse to explore the patient's feelings and concerns more deeply.

A. "I know. I would feel terrible if I had been told I was dying." This response does not effectively address the patient's concerns or provide therapeutic communication. It shifts the focus from the patient's feelings to the nurse's hypothetical reaction, which may invalidate the patient's emotions and fail to address her immediate needs.

B. "Is there any reason to tell your family about this now? You still have some time in which you can enjoy life." This response minimizes the patient's emotions and fails to acknowledge her distress about feeling like a burden to her family. It also suggests avoiding communication with her family, which may not be in line with the patient's values or preferences regarding sharing important information.

C. "You have heard some very bad news today. Can you describe what you mean by burden?" This response acknowledges the patient's feelings and invites further discussion about her concerns. By encouraging the patient to describe her feelings of being a burden, the nurse demonstrates empathy and validates the patient's emotions, which can promote therapeutic communication and understanding.

D. "I doubt that your loving family will view your terminal care as a burden." While this response attempts to provide reassurance, it may come across as dismissive of the patient's feelings and concerns. It assumes how the patient's family will react without addressing the patient's immediate emotional needs or exploring her perspective further.

A. Anger: Anger involves feelings of frustration, resentment, or hostility towards the situation or others. The statement does not express anger but rather a refusal to accept the possibility of a serious illness.

B. Depression: Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. While the statement may reflect concern, it does not indicate depressive symptoms.

C. Acceptance: Acceptance is characterized by coming to terms with one's impending death or loss. The statement does not indicate acceptance of the possibility of having cancer.

D. Bargaining: Bargaining involves attempting to negotiate or make deals to change the outcome of a situation. The statement does not suggest bargaining behavior.

E. Denial: Denial is the initial stage where individuals refuse to accept the reality of their situation. The statement "I've had stomach problems for years. I don't have cancer." suggests a refusal to accept the possibility of having cancer despite ongoing health issues. Therefore, it correlates with denial.