A patient who is diagnosed with AIDS and has developed Kaposi's sarcoma tells the nurse, "I have lots of thoughts about dying. Do you think I am just being morbid?" Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

More assessment of the patient's psychosocial status is needed before taking any other action. The statements, "Thinking about dying will not improve the course of AIDS" and "Try to focus on the good things in life …" discourage the patient from sharing any further information with the nurse and decrease the nurse's ability to develop a trusting relationship with the patient. The statement, "Although your diagnosis is serious, there are more treatments available now" is correct, but without further assessment, it is impossible to know whether this responds to the patient's concerns.

A Patient Who Is Diagnosed with AIDS and Has Developed