Posted: September 30th, 2017

A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse “I’m going to die, and I wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I’m the one who’s dying.” Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?

A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse “I’m going to die, and I wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I’m the one who’s dying.” Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?

A. “Have you shared your feelings with your family?”
B. “I think we should talk more about your anger with your family.”
C. “You’re feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?”
D. “You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis.”