The nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with stage I cancer of the colon. When assessing the need for psychologic support, which question by the nurse will provide the most information?

Question

a. "How long ago were you diagnosed with this cancer?"
b. "Do you have any concerns about body image changes?"
c. "Can you tell me what has been helpful to you in the past when coping with stressful events?"
d. "Are you familiar with the stages of emotional adjustment to a diagnosis like cancer of the colon?"

Answer 1

ANS: C
Information about how the patient has coped with past stressful situations helps the nurse determine usual coping mechanisms and their effectiveness. The length of time since the diagnosis will not provide much information about the patient's need for support. The patient's knowledge of typical stages in adjustment to a critical diagnosis does not provide insight into patient needs for assistance. Because surgical interventions for stage I cancer of the colon may not cause any body image changes, this question is not appropriate at this time.