A patient in whom cancer has just been diagnosed tells the nurse,"Just get out of here and leave me alone! Let me suffer alone.God is punishing me." The nurse determines that the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's statement about God punishing them suggests a spiritual distress related to the cancer diagnosis. The patient may benefit from spiritual support and counseling to address these beliefs and feelings. Option A (risk for loneliness) may also be applicable, but it is not the most appropriate diagnosis given the patient's expressed desire to be alone. Option B (powerlessness) may be more appropriate if the patient's statement was related to a sense of loss of control over their life and health. Option C (dysfunctional grieving) would not be appropriate as the patient has just received the diagnosis and has not yet had time to process or grieve the situation.

A Patient in Whom Cancer Has Just Been Diagnosed Tells