Question

A 4-year-old child is brought into the emergency room for abdominal pain. While in the emergency department, the client's condition deteriorates and the child dies. After the physician pronounces the time of death, the child's parent punches a hole in the wall of the exam room. Which stage of grief is the parent experiencing?

1) Anger
2) Acceptance
3) Denial
4) Depression

Answer 1

The parent is exhibiting the stage of anger in the grieving process, as characterized by frustration and outward expressions of inner turmoil.

Step-by-step explanation:

The parent's reaction of punching a hole in the wall after the death pronouncement of their child indicates the stage of anger in the grieving process. According to the Kübler-Ross model, also known as the five stages of grief, anger is a common response when individuals are dealing with loss and grief. The other stages include denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, but anger is characterized by frustration and often an outward projection of the inner turmoil and pain the person is experiencing.