A terminally ill patient tells the nurse that even though the news about his health is not good, he feels less anxious about what to expect. The nurse realizes the conversation held with the patient was:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The benefits of openly discussing end-of-life issues include reduction of anxiety, clarity in decision-making, and confronting fears in the light of factual information. The patient tells the nurse that he feels less anxious about what to expect; so clearly the conversation was helpful in reducing his anxiety and fears. The nurse has no way of knowing if the conversation was truthful or if it was intended to instill hope. There is also no way of knowing if the conversation was used as a mechanism to place the patient into denial about his prognosis

A Terminally Ill Patient Tells the Nurse That Even Though