A nurse caring for the family of a client who recently died. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Instruct the family to leave prior to cleaning the client’s body.
B.
Encourage the family to express their feelings of loss.
C.
Limit the amount of time the family spends in the client’s room.
D.
Ask the family not to touch the client’s body.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: B. Encourage the family to express their feelings of loss.
When caring for the family of a client who has recently died, the nurse’s primary role is to offer emotional support, provide information, and facilitate a grieving process that is healthy and respectful of the family’s needs. The correct action is to encourage the family to express their feelings of loss. Grief is a natural response to loss, and providing a supportive environment where family members can openly express their emotions is crucial in helping them cope with the death of their loved one.
Explanation:
- Emotional Support: Grief is a complex and highly individual experience. Encouraging the family to express their feelings helps them process their loss in a healthy way. It validates their emotions and can help prevent the suppression of grief, which can lead to complicated grief or other psychological issues. Nurses are in a unique position to provide empathy and understanding during this vulnerable time, which can significantly impact the family’s ability to cope with their loss.
- Creating a Supportive Environment: Allowing the family to stay with the deceased for as long as they need can provide a sense of closure. This time allows the family to say their final goodbyes, which is an important step in the grieving process. The nurse should facilitate this by creating a calm, peaceful environment, offering comfort, and being present if the family desires.
- Respect for Cultural and Personal Preferences: Different cultures and individuals have varied practices and beliefs regarding death and the care of the deceased. The nurse should be aware of and respect these practices, allowing the family to engage in rituals or customs that are meaningful to them. For instance, some families may want to participate in preparing the body or may have specific prayers or rituals they wish to perform.
- Communication and Compassion: Open communication is key. The nurse should be available to answer questions and provide information about the next steps, such as the preparation of the body or funeral arrangements. The nurse should also be attentive to the family’s needs, offering words of comfort and reassurance.
In contrast, the other options are not supportive of the family’s grieving process. Instructing the family to leave before cleaning the body (Option A), limiting the time they spend with the deceased (Option C), or asking them not to touch the body (Option D) can be seen as dismissive of their needs and may inhibit their ability to grieve fully. These actions could potentially exacerbate their sense of loss and isolation, making it harder for them to find closure. Therefore, the nurse should focus on providing a compassionate and supportive environment, allowing the family to express their grief and begin the healing process.