The nurse is caring for a client who is an alcoholic. The client's daughter states, "I don't understand why my mother keeps buying beer for my dad. She won't admit that he's an alcoholic." What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Your father would still access alcohol even if your mother didn't buy his beer."
B) "In her own way, your mother is trying to keep your family functioning."
C) "Your father is an enabler and it likely influences your mother's behavior."
D) "If your mother stopped buying beer for your father he would most likely stop drinking."
Ans: B
Feedback:
A spouse or child usually becomes the alcoholic's " enabler," the person who keeps the family functioning even at an altered level. The enabler assumes tasks that the alcoholic cannot accomplish, cares for the alcoholic, and makes excuses for the alcoholic. These behaviors enable the alcoholic to continue drinking, which contributes to the deterioration of the family unit.
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