A patient who has been diagnosed with cancer asks the nurse, "If I take the chemotherapy, will I be cured, or am I going to die anyway?" The nurse's best response is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is difficult to directly answer stress-related questions about uncertainties, like, "If I take the chemotherapy, will I be cured, or am I going to die anyway?" The reality is that there may be no single answer. It helps to ask the patient what prompted the question and to have a good idea of the patient's level of knowledge before answering. Allowing patients to be in charge of areas and issues that are not at odds with a treatment protocol and helping patients discover the real causes of their frustration can reduce stress through direct action. Patients experiencing stress should be given the opportunity to express their feelings, thoughts, and worries.

A Patient Who Has Been Diagnosed with Cancer Asks the Nurse