Each evening, a newly disabled man becomes angry when his wife, just home from her new full-time job, does not have dinner on the table at 6 PM. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for the nurse to take?
a. Allow the wife to express her frustration and anger to you
b. Explain to the husband that he is going to have to begin learning how to cook
c. Help all family members recognize that long-time roles are being changed and change is uncomfortable for everyone
d. Suggest to the children who are old enough that they prepare some simple meals during the week with the mother doing the fancy cooking only on weekends
ANS: C
Roles refer to established patterns of behavior for a family. It takes other family members to keep a person in a particular role. Traditional roles are being challenged and are evolving with economic changes. Formal roles may come into conflict with roles set by family members. The husband has major life changes to which to adjust, as do all the other family members. His anger is a symptom of the painfulness of major life changes. The nurse can help the family members recognize the problem in preparation for addressing the issues.
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