An older adult is unable to reach the phone and is found dead at home several hours later. The son of the deceased person arrives at the hospital and asks, "Can I just please stay and hold my dad's hand? He was so afraid of dying alone." Which response by the nurse shows empathy?
A) "You are just too late for that. Where were you when he needed you?"
B) "Did you ever consider purchasing a cell phone for your dad to prevent this from happening?"
C) "I'll close the door so you can spend time with your dad. I will check back in a few minutes."
D) "I lost my dad last year. He died alone. He was a policeman. I am just like you. Let me stay here and console you."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Correct:Empathy is demonstrated by the ability to mentally place oneself in another person's situation to better understand the person and to share the emotions or feelings of the person.
Incorrect:a.Telling the son that he is too late to be there for his dad is an ineffective communication technique,given this situation,and does not support empathy.
b.Asking the son if he ever considered buying his dad a cell phone is an ineffective communication technique,given this situation,and does not support empathy.
d.In terms of communication,it is ineffective for the nurse to share stories,and does not support empathy.

An Older Adult Is Unable to Reach the Phone and Is