Final answer:
The nurse should prepare the body according to hospital policies, provide emotional support, and facilitate the family's request to view the deceased with respect and dignity. This helps the family in the grieving process and ensures that the final encounter is handled compassionately.
Step-by-step explanation:
When family members of a deceased client request to view the body, the nurse should respond with compassion and professionalism. The nurse should ensure the body is prepared in a respectful manner according to the hospital's policies and guidelines, which often include tasks like closing the eyes, placing the body in a natural position, and sometimes tidying up the area around the body to make the environment more peaceful and respectful for the family.
The nurse should also provide emotional support to the family, understanding that the emotional reactions of loss to the death of loved ones can be intense and varied. Facilitating this last encounter can be a part of helping the family in the grieving process. Additionally, the nurse should offer privacy to the family during this time and be available to answer any questions they may have. In all instances, maintaining the dignity of the deceased and the family is paramount.