An older male adult who had radical surgery for oral cancer is refusing to see visitors and is losing weight despite aggressive nutrition therapy. The nurse assesses this man for in-effective coping related to dysfunctional grieving

Question

Which is the most important patient outcome of nursing care implemented in response to his mental health status? a. Discusses how his coping mechanisms are overwhelmed
b. Performs self-feedings through gastrostomy tube daily
c. Uses nonverbal forms of communication effectively
d. Exhibits self-confidence in regaining sense of control

Answer 1

D

Feedback
A Incorrect. The patient displays lack of readiness for expressions about emotions, coping, or his stressors; by enhancing his self-confidence, the nurse prepares him to discuss coping mechanisms and stressors.
B Incorrect. This patient displays a lack of readiness for learning a new psycho-motor activity. This outcome gains importance as the day for discharge ap-proaches.
C Incorrect. This outcome is important for basic communication; however, he dis-plays a lack of readiness for receiving help to achieve this outcome.
D Correct. The most important element of the nursing plan of care for this older adult is to create and strengthen self-confidence to improve his sense of control because doing so is likely to help him manage other aspects of this health care effectively. The nurse helps to create and improve this self-confidence by ob-serving for strengths and integrating them into daily care and by responding with empathy and encouragement to expressions of fears, emotions, and desira-ble goals. This is the most important outcome because this man has clinical in-dicators for depression: social isolation and weight loss. Before he can benefit from discussing his stressors or from patient teaching, the nurse must establish a trusting, caring relationship and build some self-confidence because, at this point, this individual feels hopeless and that he has no control.