A patient with Cushing syndrome is admitted to the hospital to have laparoscopic adrenalectomy. During the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse, "The worst thing about this disease is how terrible I look. I feel awful about it." The best response by the nurse is

Question

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The most reassuring communication to the patient is that the physical and emotional changes caused by the Cushing syndrome will resolve after hormone levels return to normal postoperatively. The response beginning "Let me show you how to dress" indicates that the changes are permanent and that the patient's appearance needs disguising. The response beginning, "I do not think you look bad" does not acknowledge the patient's feelings and also fails to communicate that the changes will be resolved after surgery. And the response beginning "You really should not worry about how you look in the hospital" implies that the patient's appearance is not good.

A Patient with Cushing Syndrome Is Admitted to the Hospital