Question

A young man who has had a traumatic mid-thigh amputation of his right leg refuses to look at the wound during dressing changes. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

A) Oh, for gosh doesn't look that bad!
B) I understand, but you are going to have to look someday.
C) I respect your wish not to look at it right now.
D) You won't be able to go home until you look at it.

Answer 1

The appropriate response for a nurse when a patient refuses to look at his wound is to respect his wishes and provide emotional support, without coercion or dismissal of his feelings.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the student's question regarding the appropriate nursing action for a young man who refuses to look at his mid-thigh amputation wound, the nurse should provide support and acknowledge the patient’s feelings. A proper response would be C) "I respect your wish not to look at it right now." This approach respects the patient's autonomy and current emotional state while providing a compassionate and professional atmosphere. Coercive or dismissive statements like options A, B, and D could be detrimental to the patient’s psychological well-being and his recovery process.