A nurse cares for an older adult client who is recovering from a leg amputation surgery. The client states, "I don't want to live with only one leg. I should have died during the surgery." How should the nurse respond?
a. "Your vital signs are good, and you are doing just fine right now."
b. "Your children are waiting outside. Do you want them to grow up without a father?"
c. "This is a big change for you. What support system do you have to help you cope?"
d. "You will be able to do some of the same things as before you became disabled."
ANS: C
The client feels like less of a person following the amputation. The nurse should help the client to identify coping mechanisms that have worked in the past and current support systems to assist the client with coping. The nurse should not ignore the client's feelings by focusing on vital signs. The nurse should not try to make the client feel guilty by alluding to family members. The nurse should not refer to the client as being "disabled" as this labels the client and may fuel the client's poor body image.
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