You are caring for an elder who is experiencing severe chronic pain and suffering from a terminal illness despite your best nursing interventions to reduce the pain.Your patient has verbalized a desire to find "some sort of meaning to all of this." Which intervention would be most appropriate at this time?
A) Change the subject and introduce a distraction,such as television.
B) Reassure the elder that this is normal and that everyone experiences it.
C) Listen and facilitate expression of feelings about life and death.
D) Ask the doctor to order a psychiatric consult.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most appropriate intervention at this time is to listen and facilitate expressions of feelings about life and death.The patient may have the need to talk; the role of the nurse is to assist the patient to find meaning and reconciliation.By changing the subject,you are negating the patient's feelings.Option B does not give the patient an opportunity to express his feelings.In addition,it is not true that "everyone experiences it"; each person's experience is different.It is within the role of the nurse to listen to the patient and assist him in expressing concerns.A psychiatric consultation is not warranted at this time.

You Are Caring for an Elder Who Is Experiencing Severe