Question

A client is brought to the crisis unit by the police after having escaped unharmed from an apartment fire caused by the client smoking in bed. The nurse observes the client sitting silently, almost motionless. Which response by the nurse would be best?

"Boy, that must have been scary. You must consider yourself very lucky." "You've been through a very difficult experience. Let's move to a quiet area so we can talk." "I hope you won't smoke while you are in bed anymore and that you learned your lesson today." "Would you like to change your clothes? The odor of smoke must be very disturbing."

Answer 1

The appropriate nursing response to a client post-fire trauma is to acknowledge the severity of the experience and offer a supportive space for discussion, without judgment or focusing on the cause of the event.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response by a nurse to a client who has been through the trauma of escaping an apartment fire would be: "You've been through a very difficult experience. Let's move to a quiet area so we can talk." This response acknowledges the person's experience without premature judgment or oversimplification of their feelings. It offers a supportive and empathetic space for the client to share their feelings when they are ready, rather than assuming how the person feels or focusing on the behavior that led to the crisis.