A woman who recently had a miscarriage is in the clinic for follow-up.She sees the diagnosis "spontaneous abortion" on her chart and becomes visibly upset,stating,"I did not have an abortion!" Which response by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "spontaneous abortion" is the medical term for miscarriage before 20 weeks' gestation.Medical terms are often confusing to laypeople,and it is the nurse's duty to inform patients of their meaning.Nurses should also be aware that the term "abortion" is politically and emotionally laden,so it should not be surprising that an uninformed layperson might become upset at its use.The nurse should acknowledge the woman's feelings and explain the term.Telling the woman not to be upset is paternalistic and does nothing to educate her.Offering to come back later would be a useful option after the nurse has acknowledged the woman's feelings and discovered that she does not want to talk right now; otherwise,this statement might seem like rejection.Stating that no one is accusing the woman of having an abortion is defensive.

A Woman Who Recently Had a Miscarriage Is in the Clinic