You are caring for a 58-year-old woman who had a bilateral mastectomy

You are caring for a 58-year-old woman who had a bilateral mastectomy 48 hours ago. When you meet the patient she tells you that her husband will not attend the discharge teaching meeting as planned.

She also mentions that he has not been to the hospital since the surgery. Which of the following responses by the nurse practicing family-focused care is most appropriate?
1. “Can you tell me more about your family and how your hospitalization has affected them?”
2. “We may be able to reschedule the meeting—I’ll check with the discharge planner.”
3. “Did the admitting nurse create a genogram of your family?—it might help if I took a look at it.”
4. “Will you be able to manage your care alone at home, or is there someone else I should call?”

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: 1

Feedback
1 Therapeutic questions with the family are critical to family-focused nursing. Open-ended questions facilitate explanation of data including facts, thoughts, or emotions.
2 This statement fails to recognize the wife’s potential concern about her absent spouse.
3 Closed-ended questions shut down nurse-family communication.
4 Closed-ended questions shut down nurse-family communication.