The patient with terminal liver cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to take a long time to die, aren't I? I'm going to get sicker and weaker every day." What would be the best response by the nurse?
a. "You will die in 4 to 6 months."
b. "I don't want to hear this kind of negative talk. Make use of the time you have."
c. "We have many medications that can make you feel better."
d. "What concerns you the most about dying?"
ANS: D
Using an open-ended question but being honest about terminal illness creates an interpersonal environment for effective communication.
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