When assessing cancer survivors regarding the stressors of cancer, the

When assessing cancer survivors regarding the stressors of cancer, the nurse should first ask cli-ents:

1. If they feel they are stressed by the cancer
2. How they believe cancer has affected their life
3. What they are doing to cope with the stress of having experienced cancer
4. What assistance they need to successfully manage the stressors of dealing with cancer

ANSWER

ANS: 2
As a nurse, learn to assess the many ways in which cancer affects the lives of clients who are sur-vivors. It is through their perception of how cancer impacts their lives, that therapeutic nursing interventions can be implemented.
Clients may not be comfortable identifying themselves as being stressed. An open-ended ques-tion regarding the effects of cancer on the client’s life is likely to be more informative.
Asking a client what they are doing to cope with stress assumes the client is experiencing stress, and it may be uncomfortable for the client to answer. An open-ended question regarding the ef-fects of cancer on the client’s life is likely to be more informative.
Asking a client about assistance needed to manage stress assumes the client is experiencing stress, and it may be uncomfortable for the client to answer. An open-ended question regarding the ef-fects of cancer on the client’s life is likely to be more informative.