The nurse is caring for a patient with bipolar disorder. The patient tells the nurse, "I don't know why God gave me this disease. It is so tough to deal with this condition." What is the nurse's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

3. The nurse should clarify the patient's importance of faith by using the word "tough," which the patient also used. The nurse should not tell the patient that God only gives the patient what he or she can handle. This is an example of the nurse projecting his or her own faith on the patient, which is inappropriate and non-therapeutic. While joining a support group may be beneficial for the patient, this is not the most appropriate response because it does not address the patient's immediate spiritual concerns. Asking if the patient follows a religion is not beneficial to the patient at this time because it does not elicit a thorough response from the patient and does not address the patient's immediate spiritual concerns.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Bipolar Disorder