Question

A nurse is counseling a client who recently lost her partner in a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following reactions should the nurse identify as part of the second stage of the grieving process?

a. Denial.
b. Bargaining.
c. Anger.
d. Depression.

Answer 1

Anger is the second stage of the grieving process in Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's model. This model, which lists the stages as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, helps us understand common emotional reactions to loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should identify anger as part of the second stage of the grieving process according to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's five-stage model. Kübler-Ross, who is known for her groundbreaking work in the field of thanatology, outlined these stages in her 1969 book On Death and Dying. The correct order of the stages, as per her model, is denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Therefore, the answer is c. Anger.

The stages of grief can help those like the client of the nurse to understand that these emotional reactions are common and that they are not alone in their experience. However, it is worth noting that not everyone experiences all five stages, and they may not occur in the exact order presented.