Question

A nurse is visiting a male patient with pancreatic cancer who is dying at home. During the visit, he breaks down and cries and tells the nurse that it is unfair that he should have to die now when he's finally made peace with his family and wants to live. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

a. You can't be feeling this way. You know you are going to die.
b. It does seem unfair. Tell me more about how you are feeling.
c. You'll be all right; who knows how much time any of us has.
d. Tell me about your pain. Did it keep you awake last night?

Answer 1

The best response for the nurse is to acknowledge the patient's feelings and encourage further discussion, providing emotional support in line with hospice care principles and the stages of grief that many terminally ill patients experience.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate response by the nurse in this scenario would be option b: "It does seem unfair. Tell me more about how you are feeling." This empathetic approach aligns with the principles of hospice care and the psychological understanding of the stages of grief outlined by Elisabeth Küber-Ross. Engaging with the patient's emotional state and providing a space for expression can be critical for individuals facing terminal illnesses like pancreatic cancer.

Patient care, particularly at the end of life, requires a balance of compassion and professionalism to support the individual's psychological needs. Every person's journey through the stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance is unique, and healthcare professionals are trained to facilitate this process with dignity. With hospice care, the goal is to offer comfort, preserve dignity, and affirm the value of the individual's life, ensuring they spend their remaining days in peace, often in the comfort of their own home.