Question

A hospice nurse is teaching about expected grief reactions with the family of a client who has end-stage pancreatic cancer. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

a) Grief should only be expressed in private to maintain composure.
b) It's normal for each family member to grieve in the same way.
c) Grief may manifest differently for each individual in the family.
d) Avoid discussing the impending loss to minimize distress.

Answer 1

The correct information to include in teaching about expected grief reactions is that grief may manifest differently for each individual within the family, reflecting the uniqueness of the grieving process and aligning with Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief.

Step-by-step explanation:

Grief Reactions and Hospice Care

When discussing expected grief reactions with the family of a client who has end-stage pancreatic cancer, it is crucial to recognize that grief may manifest differently for each individual within the family. This understanding aligns with the work of Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, who identified five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Importantly, these stages are not necessarily experienced in a particular order, and not everyone goes through all of them. For example, one person might express their grief through anger by being irritable and lashing out, while another might be in the denial stage, refusing to acknowledge the reality of the situation. The bargaining stage may involve making deals or promises in an attempt to postpone the inevitable, while those in the depression stage might withdraw and display intense sadness. Eventually, acceptance may come with a sense of peace and understanding.

The goal of hospice care is to provide a person at the end of life with dignity, pain management, and a comfortable environment, often in their own home. This approach to care can be immensely beneficial not only to the patient who is able to spend their last days in a familiar setting but also to the family members who receive emotional support and assistance in caregiving. Hospice care helps assure that the emotional reactions of loss can be processed in a supportive environment.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is "c) Grief may manifest differently for each individual in the family," which recognizes the unique and personal nature of the grieving process. It is not advisable to expect that grief should only be expressed in private (a), that everyone grieves the same way (b), or that discussing the impending loss should be avoided (d).