The nurse learns that a patient is still grieving over the loss of an infant to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) many years earlier. The nurse recently lost a child to SIDS herself. What is the nurse's best response?

Question

A) Listen attentively and keep her own experience to herself
B) Share her own experience and relate how she feels about it
C) Remind the patient that she is not alone since many people lose babies to SIDS
D) Suggest that the pains of the past be laid to rest and that it is best to live in the present

Answer 1

B
Feedback:
Although the nurse's first priority is to listen to the patient, it is often appropriate to share personal experiences. The patient will probably gain great comfort from learning that her nurse shares her feelings of grief. Reminding the patient that she is not alone will not help the patient deal with the feelings of grief. Suggesting that the past be laid to rest definitely does not help the patient deal with the feelings of grief.