Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has terminal liver cancer. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client is experiencing spiritual distress?

1) The client expresses a lack of interest in participating in religious activities.
2) The client requests to meet with a spiritual counselor.
3) The client reports feeling a sense of hopelessness and despair.
4) The client experiences a decrease in appetite and weight loss.

Answer 1

Decreased appetite and weight loss in a patient with terminal cancer could be due to many factors and are not definitive signs of spiritual distress. Spiritual distress is more likely to be indicated by expressions of existential questioning or conflict with personal beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse identifying a client with terminal liver cancer as experiencing spiritual distress would typically look for statements or behaviors indicating a struggle with the meaning of life and death, a sense of hopelessness, or a conflict with belief systems, rather than physical symptoms like appetite changes alone. Changes in appetite and weight loss are likely physical manifestations of the illness and could stem from various causes including the cancer itself, treatments, or psychological factors such as depression.

While decreased appetite and weight loss might accompany spiritual distress, they are not definitive indicators of it. Instead, expressions of spiritual distress might include verbal statements questioning faith, the purpose of suffering, expressing feelings of abandonment, or a desire for reconciliation with estranged family or a higher power.