At what point in the nurse-patient relationship should a nurse plan to first address termination?

A) During the orientation phase
B) At the end of the working phase
C) Near the beginning of the termination phase
D) When the patient initially brings up the topic

The patient has a right to know the conditions of the nurse-patient relationship. If the relationship is to be time-limited, the patient should be informed of the number of sessions. If it is open-ended, the termination date will not be known at the outset, and the patient should know that the issue will be negotiated at a later date. The nurse is responsible for bringing up the topic of termination early in the relationship, usually during the orientation phase.