A 21-year-old client informs the nurse that he is not sleeping. The nu

QUESTION

A 21-year-old client informs the nurse that he is not sleeping. The nurse learns that the client’s girlfriend was killed in a car accident 1 month ago. Which statement would be of most concern to the nurse?

a. “I am moving on and plan to start dating again.”
b. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let her go out that night.”
c. “I wish I died in the car accident instead of her.”
d. “I cannot sleep because I keep reliving the car accident.”

ANSWER:

ANS: A
Complicated grief can appear as an absence of grief in situations where it would be expected. When deaths and important losses are not mourned, the feelings don’t just disappear; they reappear in unexpected ways, sometimes years later. Subsequent losses trigger an extreme reaction to a current loss. Complicated grief can result in clinical symptoms such as depression or anxiety disorders that require professional help. Blaming oneself, wanting to take the place of those who dies, and having sleep problems are normal grief reactions that occur in sudden or traumatic situations.