A widow grieving her husband's sudden death tells the nurse, I'm ...

[ap345]

A widow grieving her husband's sudden death tells the nurse, I'm not feeling well. Yesterday, I saw my husband walk through the door, stop, and smile at me. Then he just faded away. Which is the nurse's most appropriate action?
 
  a. Assess for recent substance use.
  b. Suggest a referral to the mental health clinic.
  c. Arrange for an evaluation for antidepressant medication.
  d. Counsel the widow that visualizations are a normal part of grieving.

Question 2

A grieving patient tells a nurse, It's been 8 months since my spouse died. I thought I would feel better by now, but lately I feel worse. I have no energy. I am lonely, but I don't want to be around people.
 
  What should I do? What is the nurse's best counsel?
 
  a. Seek psychotherapy.
  b. Become active in a church.
  c. Attend a bereavement group.
  d. Understand this is a normal response.

[amit]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Grieving patients often dream about, visualize, think about, or search for the lost loved one. The patient should be told that this is considered a normal phenomenon and not a sign of mental illness. Visualization does not suggest substance use or mental illness in this case.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The patient needs understanding and support that the feelings are normal. Although feelings of depression generally decline over the period of a year after the death of a loved one, the decline is not linear. Loneliness and aimlessness are most pronounced 6 to 9 months after the death. The patient should be educated about phenomena experienced during bereavement. The other options are not clearly indicated.

[ap345]

Excellent

[ryhom]

TYSM