The wife of an elderly patient begins crying after she is informed that he is has a terminal illness.Which intervention by the nurse is best?

A) Sit quietly with the patient's wife while she composes her thoughts.
B) Inform his wife that a chaplain is available if she would like to speak to him.
C) Remind his wife that her husband has lived a long and good life.
D) Tell his wife there are always options and suggest she not give up hope.

Question

Summer Leighh · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : A, Explanation :   The nurse can intervene best by sitting quietly with the patient's wife,allowing her to compose her thoughts.Silence communicates acceptance.After processing the bad news,the wife can provide the nurse with further information,such as whether she would like to consult with a chaplain.Telling the wife there are always options offers false reassurance and would probably discourage her from further communication.

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