Final answer:
The most appropriate nursing diagnosis for a patient dealing with intense anger and lack of social support following the sudden death of a spouse is B. Complicated Grieving related to the death of a significant other. This considers the stages of grief as well as the specific circumstances of the patient's loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing intense anger and a lack of social support after the sudden death of a spouse is B. Complicated Grieving related to the death of a significant other. This diagnosis most accurately captures the individual's psychological and emotional state given the sudden and significant nature of the loss. The other options (A, Chronic Sorrow, and C, Risk for Complicated Grieving) suggest either an ongoing state or a potential future state, respectively, while D, Death Anxiety, is more applicable to individuals facing their own mortality rather than the loss of others.
Under the framework of Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's stages of grief, the intense anger the patient is experiencing is typical of the second stage of the grieving process. Given the sudden death and lack of social support, the risk for complicated grieving increases, indicating that the bereavement process could be more severe and protracted. Understanding the nuances of grieving and offering the necessary support and interventions can help in managing the patient's response to the loss and assisting them through the grieving process.