Question

A woman whose husband died 2 months ago says to the visiting nurse, 'My daughter came over yesterday to help me move my husband's things out of our bedroom, and I was so angry with her for moving his belongings from where he always kept them. She doesn't know how much I'm hurting.' Which statement by the nurse would be therapeutic?

A. 'I know just how you feel, because I lost my husband last summer.'
B. 'It's OK to grieve and be angry with your daughter and anyone else for a time.'
C. 'You need to focus on the many good years you enjoyed together and move on.'
D. 'I know it's a troubling time for you, but try to focus on your children and grandchildren.'

Answer 1

The most therapeutic response that the nurse could offer is Option B: 'It's OK to grieve and be angry with your daughter and anyone else for a time,' as it validates the woman's feelings without rush or judgment. It respects the individual nature of grief.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most therapeutic response from the nurse in this scenario would acknowledge the woman's feelings and emotions without making them about someone else's experience or pressuring her to move on before she's ready. Option B, 'It's OK to grieve and be angry with your daughter and anyone else for a time,' validates the woman's emotions and normalizes the grieving process, allowing her the space and permission to feel her emotions without judgment.

Variations in the grieving process are common, and the five stages of grief, as outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, may not occur in a specific order or timeframe. Grief can manifest in many ways, and empathy from others is essential. The nurse's role is to provide support and understanding, not to rush the woman's emotional journey or impose their own experiences on it.