Age Specific Care Quiz Related

Review Age Specific Care Quiz related questions and content

A Hispanic woman comes to the mental health center at the urging of her adult children. The patient has lost 5 pounds since her husband's death 6 months ago and says, "My husband comes to visit me in the night but I cannot understand what he says." How should the nurse analyze this situation? The patient is:

  • A. Experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations.
  • B. At high risk for imbalanced nutrition.
  • C. Grieving the husband's death.
  • D. Denying the husband's death.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Grieving the husband's death. The patient's statement about her deceased husband visiting her in the night and her weight loss following his death indicate a strong possibility of experiencing grief. This is a common manifestation of bereavement, where individuals may have difficulty accepting the reality of the loss and experience hallucinations or illusions involving the deceased. The patient's symptoms are more aligned with the normal process of grieving rather than psychosis. Choices A and B are incorrect because the patient's experiences are likely related to grief rather than auditory and visual hallucinations or imbalanced nutrition. Choice D is incorrect as the patient's statements suggest she is aware of her husband's death but is struggling to cope with it emotionally.