Final answer:
A nurse would find Erikson's psychosocial development theory most helpful for understanding how a 78-year-old pneumonia patient and his family will adjust to stressors, particularly concerning the late adulthood stage of 'integrity versus despair'. This stage emphasizes the need for emotional support and the reflection on one's life accomplishments or failures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychosocial development theory created by Erik Erikson is a valuable tool for nurses to use when caring for elderly patients, such as a 78-year-old client with pneumonia. According to Erikson's theory, individuals in late adulthood (from mid-60s onwards) are in the stage known as integrity versus despair. This stage involves reflecting on life and feeling either a sense of satisfaction or failure. A nurse could find this theory most helpful in determining how the client and his family will adjust to the stressors associated with the recent diagnosis of pneumonia. Erikson's stages highlight the importance of psychosocial needs and the potential coping mechanisms that may arise because the elderly often require an emotional support network during periods of illness.
Applying the stage of integrity versus despair to the client's situation, the nurse can better understand the psychosocial impact of the illness and potentially predict how the client will respond to and cope with his respiratory problem and its treatment. By recognizing the client's need for a sense of accomplishment and peace with their past, the nurse can provide more personalized and compassionate care, helping the patient to navigate the feelings of integrity or despair that may be intensified by the current health crisis.