A grieving patient tells a nurse, "It's been 8 months since my spouse died. I thought I would feel better by now, but lately I feel worse. I have no energy. I am lonely, but I don't want to be around people
What should I do?" What is the nurse's best counsel?
a. Seek psychotherapy.
b. Become active in a church.
c. Attend a bereavement group.
d. Understand this is a normal response.
ANS: D
The patient needs understanding and support that the feelings are normal. Although feelings of depression generally decline over the period of a year after the death of a loved one, the decline is not linear. Loneliness and aimlessness are most pronounced 6 to 9 months after the death. The patient should be educated about phenomena experienced during bereavement. The other options are not clearly indicated.
You might also like to view...
A 30-year-old man with a BMI of 59 has recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In light of the man's lack of success with weight loss programs in the past, his care provider has prescribed sibutramine (Meridia)
What instructions should the nurse consequently provide to this patient? A) "Take this drug once each day on an empty stomach." B) "It's best to take a dose of sibutramine after each meal." C) "This drug will help you to lose weight without having to exercise or change your normal diet." D) "Take a dose when you feel like you are tempted to binge on food."
A male patient who has been prescribed isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid) reports that his breasts have enlarged since starting therapy. What is your best response?
a. "This is common with isoniazid and will disappear after you stop drug therapy." b. "Is the enlargement the same on both sides or is one breast larger than the other?" c. "If you are not having difficulty getting an erection, do not worry about this change." d. "I will report this problem to your prescriber and see if it is possible for you to stop taking this drug."
The main reservoir for hepatitis A is:
a. blood and body fluids. b. blood and vaginal/seminal fluids. c. faeces. d. nose, throat and mouth.
A patient has been prescribed ciprofloxacin after being diagnosed with a sinus infection. Which of the following should the patient avoid taking concurrently with ciprofloxacin?
A) Antacids B) Calcium channel blockers C) Beta-adrenergic blockers D) Diuretics