Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Crisis, Loss, Grief, Response, Bereavement, and Disaster Management Related

Review Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Crisis, Loss, Grief, Response, Bereavement, and Disaster Management related questions and content

A 62-year-old man experienced the loss of his 87-year-old father a week ago. The hospice nurse is making a follow-up visit to determine how he is handling his father?s death. Which of the following statements made indicates to the hospice nurse that patient is in the acute mourning stage of bereavement?

  • A. I keep thinking about my father; I have trouble believing he?s dead. I feel guilty because I didn?t go to the nursing home to visit him last week!
  • B. I?ve been grieving my father; losing him is a tremendous loss, but I have to get on with my life.
  • C. My father was a saint. I am so angry at God for taking him away! I?m crying all the time; I haven?t been able to work for days.
  • D. I?m going to spend the weekend with my children; they understand what I?ve been going through, and I can relax around them.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The acute mourning stage involves intense emotional reactions such as anger, crying, and inability to work, as seen in the statement about anger at God and persistent crying. The other statements reflect denial/guilt (A), acceptance (B), or coping (D), which align with different stages of grief.