Question

During the postoperative period after a modified radical mastectomy, the client confides in the nurse that she thinks she got breast cancer because she had an abortion and she did not tell her husband. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) I can have the social worker talk to you if you would like.

B) Tell me more about your feelings on this.

C) You might feel better if you confided in your husband.

D) Cancer is not a punishment; it's a disease.

Answer 1

The nurse should empathically invite the patient to discuss her feelings more with option B, as it provides a nonjudgmental and open-ended approach to allow the patient to express her worries and receive support.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response by the nurse to a client who confides about concerns that her past abortion may have caused her breast cancer would be B) Tell me more about your feelings on this. This response by the nurse shows empathy and gives the patient a safe space to express her feelings. It is important to provide support and understanding, rather than to give direct advice or dismiss the patient's feelings. Offering to have a social worker talk to the patient may be helpful, but it should come after acknowledging the patient's concerns. Telling the patient that cancer is not a punishment is true, but the timing of such education should be sensitive to the patient's current emotional state.

Genetic factors play a role in cancer risk, and genetic counseling can provide valuable information about inherited mutations that may influence an individual's susceptibility. However, there is no evidence to suggest that having an abortion is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Engaging in a nonjudgmental conversation could allow the nurse to eventually provide accurate information and reassure the patient regarding her misconceptions about cancer causation. It's important for healthcare providers to address patient guilt and misinformation with compassion and fact-based education.