A nurse is caring for a client who is grieving and has experienced sleep disturbances, weight loss, and often feels angry and irritable. The client also states that they feel depressed. Which of the following assessments is the nurse’s priority?
A.
Spiritual practices
B.
‘Cultural practices
C.
Ability to function
D.
Social support
The correct answer is:
C. Ability to function
Explanation:
In the context of grieving and experiencing symptoms such as sleep disturbances, weight loss, anger, irritability, and depression, assessing the client’s ability to function is a priority. This includes evaluating their capacity to perform daily activities, manage responsibilities, and maintain personal care. Functional assessment helps determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact on their overall well-being.
- A. Spiritual practices: While understanding spiritual practices can be helpful in providing holistic care, it is not the immediate priority in assessing functional impairment.
- B. Cultural practices: Similar to spiritual practices, cultural practices are important for context but not the primary focus for assessing functional status.
- D. Social support: Social support is crucial for coping with grief, but assessing the ability to function provides immediate insights into how the client’s symptoms are affecting their daily life and what kind of intervention may be needed.
Correct answer: C