A patient tells the nurse that he thought that he would feel better since it has been a few days after the radiation exposure, but he still feels weak and tired. Which of the following is the nurse's best response to this patient?
1. "The weak and tired feelings will continue for a while longer.".
2. "This means that your body is healing.".
3. "After your strength returns, you might have diarrhea.".
4. "Increasing your activity will help with the feelings of fatigue.".
"The weak and tired feelings will continue for a while longer.".
Rationale: During the prodromal phase of acute radiation syndrome, the gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea usually resolve within 2 days, but the fatigue and malaise often continue. This does not mean that the patient's body is healing. Diarrhea will precede the feelings of fatigue. Increasing activity will not help with the fatigue caused by this syndrome.
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