Question

A grieving patient tells a nurse, It's been 8 months since my spouse died. I thought I would feel better by now, but lately I feel worse. I have no energy. I am lonely, but I don't want to be around people. What should I do? What is the nurse's best counsel?

a. Seek psychotherapy.
b. Become active in a church.
c. Attend a bereavement group.
d. Understand this is a normal response.

Answer 1

The nurse's best counsel to the grieving patient is to consider seeking psychotherapy and to attend a bereavement group while understanding that their experience is a normal part of the grieving process. It's important to consider individual needs and whether they might find additional comfort within a spiritual community or other supportive networks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The grieving patient's feelings of increased sadness after 8 months are not uncommon, and it's important to recognize that grief can evolve and resurface even after considerable time has passed. The best counsel in this situation may involve multiple avenues of support. While seeking psychotherapy could be beneficial for personal guided support (option a), attending a bereavement group offers the opportunity to connect with others who are experiencing similar feelings of loss which can validate their experience and emotions (option c). Both psychotherapy and bereavement groups could aid in processing grief due to widowhood. Understanding that this is a normal response to loss (option d) is also critical; it validates the patient's feelings and experiences as part of the natural grieving process, which can be better understood through the reference to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Although becoming active in a church (option b) could provide community and spiritual support, it's essential to tailor the advice to the patient's personal beliefs and preferences.

Answer 2

The best counsel is likely psychotherapy, which provides a professional setting to manage grief. The nurse should also reassure the patient that feeling worse months later is normal and might suggest bereavement groups for additional support.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best counsel for the grieving patient who is struggling with the loss of their spouse and feeling worse after 8 months could be multifaceted. However, if the nurse had to choose the best single option provided, it would likely be psychotherapy. This is a professional service tailored to helping individuals work through complex emotions and could be particularly beneficial for someone dealing with prolonged grief symptoms. Psychotherapy offers a structured environment to explore feelings, provides coping mechanisms, and can help to alleviate feelings of isolation even if the patient is currently reluctant to be around people.

The nurse might also reassure the patient that feeling a resurgence of grief after several months is a normal response to loss. The grieving process is non-linear, often involving the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, which do not necessarily occur in a prescribed order and can recur unpredictably. It's also important for the nurse to recognize any signs that might indicate a more serious condition, such as clinical depression, and suggest appropriate medical assessment if necessary.

Alternatively, the nurse might suggest additional supports such as attendance at a bereavement group, which could provide social support and the feeling of not being alone in the grief journey, or activities that lead to meaningful engagement, such as involvement in a community or church. This acknowledges the research suggesting that social support can help in coping with grief.