While awaiting the imminent death of her sister, an older woman makes arrangements to bury her sister in the survivor's home state because she cannot reach the other family members. Which step should the nurse implement?

Question

a. Ask questions, including questions about the location of her sister's family.
b. Instruct this woman that this is not her decision to make.
c. Try to contact the family to inform them of the decision.
d. Question her about holding behaviors that she will want.

Answer 1

A
In a countercoping intervention, the nurse assists the older adult to cope with the loss by collect-ing information and encouraging her to avoid acting on impulse. The older adult can arrive at a hasty decision when not effectively coping with grief; therefore the nurse acts to help restore some control for the bereaved and helps avoid a decision that might be regretted later.
The nurse can ask the older adult if she believes that this is her decision to make but avoids informing her that it is not. The nurse avoids acting without the sister's knowledge; the nurse does not have the right to impose personal feelings on the family or on the patient. At a time when the older adult is acting impulsively, it can be reasonable to have her cool off; how-ever, the woman has made a hasty decision and needs help to resolve that issue. In addition, the nurse can be considered insensitive for asking about this issue before the patient is dead.