The nurse hears the parents of a 26-week-gestation newborn tell family members, "We'll be ready to bring the baby home in a few weeks.". The most therapeutic response by the nurse is which of the following?

1. "I'm glad he's doing so well.".
2. "He probably won't be ready to come home for a few months.".
3. "A therapist could help you resolve your feelings of denial.".
4. "Do you have the nursery ready yet?"


2. "He probably won't be ready to come home for a few months.".

Rationale:
Families are often in the stage of denial with the birth of a premature newborn. It is important for nurses to gently encourage the parents to be realistic. By agreeing with the parent's statement, the nurse is prolonging the state of denial and making it more difficult for the parents to see the situation realistically. Some parents do benefit from professional counseling, but nurses still need to provide support when working with families. It is not important if the nursery is ready yet, and asking this question distracts from the real issues this family is facing at this time.

Nursing

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