The nurse is caring for the parents of a chronically ill child,who display chronic sorrow.Which action by the nurse would be most beneficial for this family?
A) Encourage the parents to use resources such as respite care.
B) Help the parents establish a routine for school and bedtime.
C) Offer the parents resources to deal with their grieving.
D) Refer the parents to a community center for counseling.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chronic sorrow is manifested as periods of episodic grieving interspersed with periods of denial as a response to a chronically ill or disabled child.As the child never becomes well,the parents do not have closure for their loss of a "normal" child.A major nursing intervention the nurse can provide is to help the parents normalize as much of their daily lives as possible.One suggestion is to establish routines for daily activities,such as bedtime rituals or going-to-school routines.The other options could all be helpful but are not as comprehensive.

The Nurse Is Caring for the Parents of a Chronically