An individual was killed during a store robbery 2 weeks ago. The widowed spouse, who is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, cries spontaneously when talking about the death. Which is the nurses most therapeutic comment?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient is expressing feelings related to the loss, and this is an expected and healthy behavior. This patient is at risk for dysfunctional grieving because of the history of a severe psychiatric illness, but the nurses priority intervention is to form a therapeutic alliance and support the patients expression of feelings. The patients crying 2 weeks after the spouses death is expected and normal.