The son of a terminally ill patient tells the nurse that he is "afraid" to leave his mother's side since he does not want her to die while he is gone. Which of the following responses should the nurse give to this family member?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should help family members understand that they have lives of their own and encourage them to balance caring for visiting with the dying person with their own responsibilities. The nurse should not tell the son that the patient will not die while he is gone. The nurse also should not tell the son not to leave the patient at this time. The comment about permission to die is inappropriate.

The Son of a Terminally Ill Patient Tells the Nurse