Four days after a patient has undergone a craniotomy to remove an astrocytoma of the temporal lobe, the dressing is removed and the nurse finds the patient crying. The patient tells the nurse, "I look awful and feel even worse." The most appropriate nursing diagnosis for the patient is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's statement about looking and feeling awful supports the diagnosis of disturbed body image, which is common after surgery because of shaving of the scalp, incisions, and dressings, etc. There is no indication that the patient's immediate concern is with dying. The patient does not have indications of denial. The assessment data do not indicate that the patient feels hopeless or that cerebral edema is contributing to the patient's emotional status.

Four Days After a Patient Has Undergone a Craniotomy to Remove