A client is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is demonstrating anxiety. What intervention can the nurse use to help the client at this time?

Question

1. Explore the client's history with other stressful life events and how successful coping was at that time.
2. Teach the family that while talking with the client about death and dying is permissible, they should not allow the client to dwell on death.
3. Supply information about the client's disease process and the expected trajectory of death only on a need-to-know basis.
4. Encourage early pharmaceutical intervention with antianxiety and sedative medications.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: It is most helpful for the nurse to know how the client has dealt with previous stressful life events so that support of positive coping mechanisms can occur. The client who has received a terminal diagnosis needs to discuss the future and the implications of the diagnosis.
Rationale 2: The need for discussion and the amount of time needed will vary from client to client, so "dwelling" is an inappropriate descriptor.
Rationale 3: The client must be given facts about the disease process and projected trajectory so that final business and relationships can be addressed.
Rationale 4: Early use of antianxiety and sedative medications is not appropriate because these medications can adversely affect the client's ability to think clearly about the future.