Posted: August 17th, 2017

Which of the following guidelines is appropriate to helping family members cope with sudden death?

Which of the following guidelines is appropriate to helping family members cope with sudden death?
a) Show acceptance of the body by touching it, giving the family permission to touch.
The nurse should encourage the family to view and touch the body if they wish, since this action helps the family to integrate the loss.
b) Inform the family that the patient has passed on.
The nurse should avoid using euphemisms such as passed on.
c) Obtain orders for sedation for family members.
The nurse should avoid giving sedation to family members, since this may mask or delay the grieving process.
d) Provide details of the factors attendant to the sudden death.
The nurse should avoid volunteering unnecessary information (e.g., patient was drinking at the time of the accident).