Asked by Robinpreet Singh on Jul 04, 2024
Verified
A home health patient previously lived with her sister for more than 20 years.Although it has been over a year since her sister died,the patient tells the nurse,"It's no worse now,but I never feel any relief from this overwhelming sadness.I still can't sleep a full night.The house is a mess; I feel too tired even to take a bath.But,sometimes at night,she comes to me and I can see her plain as can be." The patient's clothing is not clean and her hair is not combed.She is apparently not eating adequately.It is the patient's birthday.What should the nurse conclude about the patient?
A) Grieving longer than usual because of the closeness of the relationship with her sister
B) Experiencing a depressive disorder rather than simply grieving the loss of her sister
C) Feeling guilt and worthlessness because her sister died and she is still alive
D) Interpreting the birthday as a trigger event,which is causing her to hallucinate
Depressive Disorder
A mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.
Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
A life-threatening condition where a bulge in a brain artery bursts, causing bleeding into the space around the brain, which can lead to stroke, brain damage, or death.
- Understand and approach grief and bereavement in patients and their families with appropriate responses.
- Discern symptoms of intricate or unusual grief processes and recognize the appropriate time to advise professional intervention.
Verified Answer
KD
Kendall DurrettJul 09, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
The patient's persistent feelings of overwhelming sadness, inability to sleep, lack of hygiene, and poor nutrition suggest a depressive disorder rather than the normal grieving process. The patient's report of seeing her sister also suggests possible hallucinations, which is a symptom of depression. The fact that it has been over a year since her sister's death further supports the possibility of a depressive disorder rather than simply prolonged grief.
Learning Objectives
- Understand and approach grief and bereavement in patients and their families with appropriate responses.
- Discern symptoms of intricate or unusual grief processes and recognize the appropriate time to advise professional intervention.
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