An 85-year-old has difficulty walking after a knee replacement. The patient tells the nurse, "It's awful to be old. Every day is a struggle. No one cares about old people." Select the nurse's best response
a. "Everyone here cares about old people. That's why we work here."
b. "It sounds like you're having a difficult time. Tell me about it."
c. "Let's not focus on the negative. Tell me something good."
d. "You are still able to get around, and your mind is alert."
ANS: B
The nurse uses empathetic understanding to permit the patient to express frustration and clarify her "struggle" for the nurse. The distracters block communication.
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