A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving acute care for the treatment of a substance use disorder. With which of the following actions is the nurse demonstrating the ethical principle of veracity?

A. This response encourages the client to express their feelings and memories about their relationship with their deceased partner. It allows the client to talk about their emotions, reminisce about positive memories, and potentially share any unresolved issues or feelings of loss. This can be therapeutic as it provides an opportunity for the client to process their grief through storytelling and expression.
B. This response shifts the focus from the client's experience to the nurse's own experience. It can detract from the client's need to talk about their own feelings and may not be perceived as empathetic. While sharing personal experiences can sometimes create rapport, in this context, it may not be the most therapeutic approach as it might minimize the client's unique experience and emotions.
C. This response assumes a directive approach, suggesting what the client "should" do. While encouraging a return to routine activities can be beneficial in some cases, it may not be appropriate immediately after a significant loss. Grieving is a personal process, and the client may not be ready to engage in usual activities right away. It's important to assess the client's readiness and provide support tailored to their current emotional state.
D. This response minimizes the client's feelings by suggesting that their experience is universal. While it's true that many people experience sadness and grief after a loss, each individual's response is unique. This statement may invalidate the client's emotions and fail to acknowledge the depth of their distress. It's important to validate the client's feelings and provide reassurance that their emotions are normal in the context of grief.

A. Thought-stopping is a cognitive behavioral technique used to interrupt and replace negative or distressing thoughts. However, it is not directly related to reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy focuses on stimulating memories and promoting positive reflections on past experiences rather than blocking thoughts.
B. Creating a unit calendar can be a helpful strategy to promote orientation to time and events for older adults, especially those who may have memory impairments. While this is a valuable activity for maintaining orientation, it is not specifically reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy involves recalling and discussing personal memories rather than focusing on current events.

C. Playing board games can indeed enhance cognition by stimulating various cognitive functions such as problem-solving, memory, and social interaction. However, it is not considered reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy involves specific guided discussions or activities that evoke memories from the past, which can promote emotional well-being and socialization through shared experiences.
D. This is the most appropriate strategy for reminiscence therapy. Discussing childhood memories encourages older adults to recall and share past experiences, fostering a sense of identity, meaning, and connection. It can also enhance self-esteem and provide opportunities for social interaction within a therapeutic context.