An 18-year-old male has suffered a C5 spinal cord contusion that has resulted in tetraplegia. His mother is crying in the waiting room 2 days after the injury has occurred
When the nurse sits down to talk to her, she asks whether her son will ever play football again. Which of the following responses would be best?
A) Reassure her that given time and motivation he will return to normal function.
B) Advise her that it isn't in his best interest for her to be so upset, and explain the importance of moral support.
C) Reflect on how she's feeling, and encourage her to express other fears that she has about his injury.
D) Explain that you aren't sure, but you will ask the physician to talk to her right away.
Ans: C
Feedback: Listening and encouraging her to express her feelings will be most therapeutic and will allow the nurse to gather more data about the mother's understanding of the injury. Telling her that her son will return to normal functioning is false reassurance; in many cases, spinal cord contusion results in permanent loss of function. The mother needs to be allowed to voice her concerns rather than being burdened right now about giving moral support. The physician won't be able to answer her question either; definitive prognosis isn't possible so soon after a spinal cord contusion.
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