An older patient who lives with family has a history of chronic alcohol abuse and poor compliance with the medical plan
The patient has begun to experience a marked decline. His family tells the nurse that these problems are a result of their inability to care for the patient properly. The nurse best responds by:
a. evaluating the care the family has been providing.
b. suggesting that care should be assumed by a professional caregiver.
c. helping the family recognize that the de-cline is a result of the patient's condition and personal choices.
d. assuring them they are providing the pa-tient with care motivated by love.
C
Family members often feel they have failed. They may need help to recognize when "failures" are the result of a challenging situation and not their performance. Giving objective information about the patient's medical condition and the consequences of not following the medical regime can help alleviate guilt. The nurse may need to evaluate the care the patient gets, but that puts the entire responsibility back on the family, which is counterproductive. Care may need to be as-sumed by a professional, but the nurse should first help the family with their feelings. Suggesting this prematurely can lead to increased guilt. Telling the family their care is motivated by love dismisses their concerns.
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