A young man who had a leg amputated because of trauma says 'No one will ever choose to love a person with one leg.' What is the best nurse response?

A young man who had a leg amputated because of trauma says 'No one will ever choose to love a person with one leg.' What is the best nurse response?

• A. You are a good looking young man, and you will have no trouble meeting someone who cares.
• B. You may feel that way now, but you will feel differently as time passes.
• C. Do you feel that no one will marry you because you have one leg?
• D. How do you see our situation at this point?

Answer: (C)

Therapeutic communication that invites the patient to express his feelings and beliefs without judgment is the key idea. When someone who has just had an amputation voices a deep fear about being loved, the best nurse response is to acknowledge the emotion and prompt further discussion in a non-threatening way. Asking, in a calm and nonjudgmental tone, whether he really believes no one will marry him because of his leg invites him to explore the root of the fear. It validates his feelings rather than dismissing them, and it opens the door for him to discuss coping, self-image, and support needs. This approach helps the nurse assess his emotional state, correct any distorted thinking, and plan appropriate support or counseling. Other responses try to reassure or redirect the conversation, but they can minimize the patient’s current emotions or shift focus away from his fears. A response that shifts the topic or makes assumptions about his future can undermine trust and miss an opportunity to understand and address his concerns.

Therapeutic communication that invites the patient to express his feelings and beliefs without judgment is the key idea. When someone who has just had an amputation voices a deep fear about being loved, the best nurse response is to acknowledge the emotion and prompt further discussion in a non-threatening way.

Asking, in a calm and nonjudgmental tone, whether he really believes no one will marry him because of his leg invites him to explore the root of the fear. It validates his feelings rather than dismissing them, and it opens the door for him to discuss coping, self-image, and support needs. This approach helps the nurse assess his emotional state, correct any distorted thinking, and plan appropriate support or counseling.

Other responses try to reassure or redirect the conversation, but they can minimize the patient’s current emotions or shift focus away from his fears. A response that shifts the topic or makes assumptions about his future can undermine trust and miss an opportunity to understand and address his concerns.