Question

A 63-year-old 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 slippers from where he always kept them under his side of our bed. 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 both enjoyed together and move on."
d) "Although it's a troubling time for you, try to focus on your children and grandchildren."

Answer 1

The most therapeutic response is to validate the woman's feelings of grief and anger, allowing her space to experience these emotions without judgment or pressure to move on prematurely.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most therapeutic statement the nurse could provide to the 63-year-old woman is option (b): "It's OK to grieve and be angry with your daughter and anyone else for a time." This acknowledges the woman's feelings without imposing the nurse's experiences or suggesting that the woman should be feeling differently. It validates her emotions and gives her permission to feel them, which is an important aspect of the grieving process. A therapeutic response should meet the patient where she is in her grief, honoring and validating her experience without comparing it to others or rushing her through her feelings.