A Patient Who Was Admitted to Hospice for Comfort Care

A patient who was admitted to hospice for comfort care of end-stage respiratory disease is asked what his hope is for his remaining life. He says, "I'm hoping for a miracle-that I will wake up one of these mornings and be able to breathe like when I was 20." The nurse would best respond:

A) "That's not likely to happen. Is there something more realistic you are hoping for?"
B) "Your lungs are too damaged for you ever to breathe like you did when you were 20."
C) "It must be very tiring to have to struggle for every breath you take."
D) "Your miracle may be in the form of medication that will improve your comfort."