The nurse is providing emotional support to a client who just learned

The nurse is providing emotional support to a client who just learned the outcome of a biopsy. What actions will be the best for the nurse to provide at this time?

1. Encourage the client to resume normal activities on a schedule that promotes physical and psychological health.
2. Use therapeutic communication techniques.
3. Offer choices that promote client autonomy.
4. Provide information about community resources or support groups.
5. Acknowledge the grief of the client.

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 2, 3, 4, 5
Rationale 1: Encouraging the client to resume normal activities on a schedule that promotes physical and psychological health would be appropriate to facilitate grief work, but would not provide emotional support.
Rationale 2: Therapeutic communication techniques let the client know that the nurse acknowledges the client’s feelings.
Rationale 3: Offering choices that promote autonomy helps the client have a sense of some control at a time when much control might not be possible.
Rationale 4: Providing information about community resources or support groups provides the client with sources of additional information.
Rationale 5: Acknowledging the grief of the client is helpful when providing emotional support.