After a male patient receives a diagnosis of a fatal disease, he expresses sadness and states that he does not know what to do next. Which is the most effective response by the nurse to facilitate communication?
a. Ask the patient what he finds comforting in his life.
b. Reassure the patient that his family will take care of him.
c. Refer the patient to a church for spiritual counseling.
d. Tell the patient that hospice care is avail-able immediately.
A
Because of the grim diagnosis, the patient expresses confusion and lacks a clear direction. To reduce anxiety, enhance coping skills, and facilitate communication, the nurse provides a calm atmosphere by redirecting and focusing the patient to identify comforting things. The nurse should use comfort measures, hoping that they will reduce tension so the patient can process in-formation and make decisions. Discussing hospice is premature until end-stage disease and be-cause the patient is not thinking clearly. The patient can benefit from a calming atmosphere and time to process the new information. Besides, informing the patient about hospice implies that end of life is imminent. Assuring the patient of family involvement requires consultation with the family first. Spiritual counseling may not be indicated for this patient if the patient does not wish to participate.
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