Question

A widow grieving her husband's sudden death tells the nurse, I'm not feeling well. Yesterday, I saw my husband walk through the door, stop, and smile at me. Then he just faded away. Which is the nurse's most appropriate action?

a. Assess for recent substance use.
b. Suggest a referral to the mental health clinic.
c. Arrange for an evaluation for antidepressant medication.
d. Counsel the widow that visualizations are a normal part of grieving.

Answer 1

The nurse's best action is to reassure the widow that seeing a vision of her late husband is a normal part of the grieving process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The widow who is grieving her husband's sudden death and experiences a vision of him is likely experiencing a normal part of the grieving process. The nurse's most appropriate action would be to counsel the widow that visualizations can be a normal part of grieving. Assessing for substance abuse or mental health issues may not be warranted unless there are other indicators suggesting such problems. Similarly, suggesting an evaluation for antidepressants may be premature if the widow is only exhibiting normal signs of grief. Offering empathy, understanding, and reassurance about the grieving process is essential in such sensitive situations.