A family in the emergency department is overwhelmed at the loss of several family members due to a shooting incident in the community. Which intervention should the nurse complete first?

a. Provide a calm location for the family to cope and discuss needs.
b. Call the hospital chaplain to stay with the family and pray for the deceased.
c. Do not allow visiting of the victims until the bodies are prepared.
d. Provide privacy for law enforcement to interview the family.


ANS: A
The nurse should first provide emotional support by encouraging relaxation, listening to the family's needs, and offering choices when appropriate and possible to give some personal control back to individuals. The family may or may not want the assistance of religious personnel; the nurse should assess for this before calling anyone. Visiting procedures should take into account the needs of the family. The family may want to see the victim immediately and do not want to wait until the body can be prepared. The nurse should assess the family's needs before assuming the body needs to be prepared first. The family may appreciate privacy, but this is not as important as assessing the family's needs.

Nursing

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