A patient who has severe peripheral arterial disease and ischemic foot ulcers is upset with the health care provider's recommendation to have an above-the-knee amputation. The patient tells the nurse, "If they want to cut off my leg, they should just shoot me instead." The most appropriate response to the patient's statement is,

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The initial nursing action should be to assess how the patient feels about the amputation and what the patient knows about the procedure and rehabilitation process. Discussion about the patient's option to not have the procedure, the reason the procedure is needed, or rehabilitation after the procedure may be appropriate after the nurse knows more about the patient's current level of knowledge and emotional state.

A Patient Who Has Severe Peripheral Arterial Disease and Ischemic