Question

The oncology staff has been preparing the spouse of a terminally ill client for her death. Which of the following best indicates the nursing interventions have been effective? ? A. Observing that the spouse controls his emotions when with the client ? B. The spouse asks a friend to come during visiting hours ? C. The spouse discusses plans for living as a widower ? D. The spouse is researching for information on the client’s disease

Short answer

Answer: The spouse discusses plans for living as a widower.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the objective of nursing interventions

Nursing interventions for the spouse of a terminally ill client typically focus on preparing them emotionally for the client's death, promoting healthy coping strategies, and building a support network, among other things. They aim to provide the spouse with the tools necessary to move through the grief and adjust to life after the client's passing.

Evaluate each option based on the objective

Now, let's analyze each option and determine which one best reflects the effectiveness of nursing interventions for the spouse: Option A. Observing that the spouse controls his emotions when with the client - Controlling emotions is a common way people try to cope with difficult situations. However, it is not necessarily indicative of effective nursing interventions targeted at preparing the spouse for death. Option B. The spouse asks a friend to come during visiting hours - While reaching out to friends and expanding support networks is a positive coping strategy, this option alone does not necessarily indicate if the spouse is prepared for the client's death. Option C. The spouse discusses plans for living as a widower - This option shows that the spouse is actively thinking about the future after their partner's death, which may indicate that they have come to terms with the impending loss to some extent. It displays a level of emotional preparedness and acceptance, which is a significant aspect of the nursing interventions for the spouse. Option D. The spouse is researching information on the client’s disease - Though it is important to understand the client's disease, it does not directly indicate the emotional preparedness of the spouse for the client's death or the effectiveness of nursing interventions.

Identify the best option

Based on our evaluation, option C (The spouse discusses plans for living as a widower) best indicates that the nursing interventions have been effective in preparing the spouse for the client's death. This is because it suggests that the spouse has accepted the situation and is preparing for life after the client's passing, which is an important aspect of the nursing interventions in this context.