Final answer:
A nurse should respond to a client's expression of wanting to end their life with neither option a nor b, but rather with empathy, active listening, and professional support, referring to mental health resources as needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a client expresses a desire to end their life, the appropriate nurse response is d) Neither a nor b. It is crucial for a nurse to provide a professional and compassionate response that acknowledges the severity of the client's feelings. The nurse's role includes offering support, conducting a risk assessment, and referring the client to mental health resources or emergency services if necessary. Trivializing the client's feelings (a) Everybody gets down in the dumps) or making it about the nurse's own experiences (b) I've felt that way myself) are not appropriate responses. Instead, the nurse should engage in active listening, express empathy, and encourage discussion about the feelings the client is experiencing. Understanding the stages of grief as described by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross can be helpful in managing such sensitive situations, along with recognizing a person's right to die with dignity, as controversial as it may be.