A nurse is working in the emergency department when a child who was involved in a motor vehicle crash is admitted. The child is critically injured and, despite heroic efforts, does not survive. The nurse finds the family in the waiting room and
several family members are agitated and do not listen to the nurse describe the child's injuries. One family member feels faint and another has vomited. What does the nurse understand about the current situation based on Epperson's theory of grieving? (Select all that apply.)
A.
It is important to be patient and identify one person to communicate with.
B.
Most of the members are totally dysfunctional and should be sent home.
C.
Signs of emotional upheaval and physical symptoms are a result of great stress.
D.
The nurse should call security, as some family members may become violent.
E.
This family is reacting normally to a catastrophic loss, according to one theory.
ANS: A, C, E
According to Epperson's theory of grieving, people experiencing a sudden or catastrophic loss experience the grief process differently than do others. There are six phases to this process: high anxiety, denial, anger, remorse, grief, and reconciliation. This family appears to be in the high-anxiety stage, with physical manifestations. The nurse should be patient with the family, find one person to communicate with primarily, and understand that this is a normal response to a great emotional upheaval. The family is not dysfunctional and should not be sent home. Violence is always a possibility in the emergency department, but the nurse should not assume that these family members will become violent. The family should be moved to a private waiting room if possible to avoid disrupting the rest of the department, but the nurse should act as if this behavior is understandable, not something to be controlled.
You might also like to view...
During the assessment of a patient's respirations, the nurse observes the expiration phase as being almost twice as long as the inspiration phase. This finding is consistent with what condition?
1. chronic lung disease 2. heart failure 3. respiratory distress 4. normal respiration
The nurse notes that Artane has been ordered as a preoperative medication for the client. What is the highest priority action on the part of the nurse?
a. Administer the medication; this is an expected preoperative medication for the client. b. Administer the drug cautiously; anaphylaxis can occur quickly with this drug. c. Call the physician to question the order based on the client's allergy history. d. Call the physician to question the order; this is not a usual preoperation medication.
A client with acute lymphocytic leukemia who is on chemotherapy has developed
stomatitis. What instruction should the nurse give to this client? A) Use alcohol-containing commercial mouthwashes B) Floss the teeth after meals on a regular basis C) Clean the teeth using a brush with hard bristles D) Rinse the mouth thoroughly after meals and at bedtime
A 65-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital with heart failure. The patient's best friend accompanies her on admission. They have been sharing a home since they each were widowed 3 years ago
Both women have grown children who live out of state. Using the family nursing approach, how can the nurse best intervene? a. Involve the friend and children in the patient's care, discharge planning, and home care. b. Encourage the friend to wait until discharge to provide care for the patient at home. c. Explain to the friend that for confidentiality reasons she cannot be involved in the patient's care. d. Encourage liberal visiting hours by the friend and the patient's children.