Question

A nurse is talking with a group of parents who have recently experienced the death of a child. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Encourage the parents to avoid discussing the death with their other children to protect their feelings
B. Recommend each parent grieve in private to avoid hindering each other's healing
C. Suggest forming a weekly support group for parents who have experienced the death of a child
D. Advise the parents to begin counseling if they are still grieving in a few months

Answer 1

The nurse should suggest forming a weekly support group for parents who have experienced the death of a child, as this provides a shared space to express emotional reactions and learn coping skills.

Step-by-step explanation:

When talking with a group of parents who have recently experienced the death of a child, the most appropriate action a nurse should take is to suggest forming a weekly support group for parents who have experienced the death of a child. This recommendation facilitates a shared space where individuals can express their emotional reactions of loss and find comfort in the experiences of others who understand their pain. It is also beneficial to provide a communal setting where grieving parents can learn and practice effective coping skills, potentially mitigating the feelings of isolation often associated with grief.

Encouraging open communication about the deceased child with surviving siblings can help the entire family process the loss, while grieving privately runs the risk of creating emotional distance between family members. Counseling can be highly beneficial for people coping with the death of a loved one; however, suggesting that parents should seek help only if they are still grieving after a specified time might invalidate their very personal, often non-linear grieving process.