Question

The spouse of a patient in hospice care angrily tells the nurse, The care provided by the aide and other family members is inadequate, so I must do everything myself. Why can't anyone do things right? The palliative care nurse should:

a. provide teaching about anticipatory grieving.
b. assign new personnel to the patient's care.
c. arrange hospitalization for the patient.
d. refer the spouse for crisis counsiling.

Answer 1

The palliative care nurse should refer the spouse for crisis counseling to support them emotionally and help with coping strategies during this challenging period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The palliative care nurse should refer the spouse for crisis counseling. This intervention is appropriate for managing the spouse's stress and providing them the specialized support needed during such a challenging time.

Hospice care is known to provide benefits not only for the patient but also for the patient's family. It is designed to offer comfort and dignity in the last stages of life, allowing terminally ill patients to remain at home and offering family members regular information, emotional support, and reduced burden of care. When a family member expresses distress like the spouse has, it suggests difficulties in coping with the caregiver's role and anticipatory grief. Crisis counseling can be an essential source of support, helping the spouse process their emotions and providing coping strategies. Hospitalization or changing care personnel may not address the underlying emotional support the spouse requires.