Question

A client with a history of heroin addiction is admitted to the hospital intensive care unit with a diagnosis of opioid drug overdose. While talking with a nurse, the client's father states that he's going to have his son declared legally incompetent. Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?

A. "Your son is ill and can't make decisions about himself and his safety right now, but this situation is temporary."
B. "You don't have the right to declare your son incompetent. He has rights, too."
C. "I'll help you contact the hospital legal representative for help with the paperwork."
D. "If you become your son's guardian, you'll be responsible for his finances and for paying for his treatment."

Answer 1

The most therapeutic response by the nurse is to acknowledge the temporary incapability of the son due to illness, reassuring the father that the situation could improve and respecting the son's autonomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to a clinical scenario where a client with a heroin addiction is hospitalized for an opioid drug overdose and the client's father is considering having his son declared legally incompetent. When dealing with a sensitive situation like this, it's important for healthcare professionals to provide appropriate support and guidance. The most therapeutic response by the nurse, in this case, is Option A: "Your son is ill and can't make decisions about himself and his safety right now, but this situation is temporary." This response acknowledges the client's current incapacity due to illness while also respecting his autonomy and suggesting a hopeful outlook that the situation could improve. It aligns with the principles outlined by Parsons, which state that while the sick person is exempted from certain responsibilities temporarily, they have not elected to be sick and should not be treated as permanently unable to fulfill their social roles.