A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who will be using a cane to maintain mobility at home following a left knee arthroplasty. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the safe use of a cane?

Choice A rationale:

Chronic grief is characterized by a prolonged and ongoing sense of loss that doesn't seem to improve with time. It doesn't directly relate to maladaptive coping, which the client in the scenario is exhibiting. Chronic grief may involve a persistent yearning or sadness for the deceased, but it doesn't necessarily involve maladaptive coping strategies.

Choice B rationale:

The client's use of alcohol and controlled substances to cope with the death of their partner indicates an exaggerated grief response. Exaggerated grief involves an intense and prolonged expression of grief that may be accompanied by excessive, intense emotions and behaviors. The client's use of substances to cope is an unhealthy and maladaptive way of dealing with their grief.

Choice C rationale:

Delayed grief refers to a situation where the emotional response to a loss is significantly postponed, often resulting in a delayed and intense reaction later on. It doesn't necessarily involve maladaptive coping, as seen in the client's case.

Choice D rationale:

Masked grief occurs when the grieving person's behavior and emotional responses are influenced by the loss but not recognized as being related to it. This can lead to various physical or psychological symptoms that mask the true underlying cause, the grief. While maladaptive coping can sometimes be seen in masked grief, it doesn't directly correlate with the client's substance use in this scenario.

When handling an unused portion of an oral opioid analgesic after administration, the nurse should take the following action:

D) Return the unused portion to the locked narcotics storage location.

Returning the unused portion to the locked narcotics storage location is a crucial step to ensure proper control and documentation of controlled substances like opioids. It helps prevent diversion and ensures the security and accountability of these medications.

Options A, B, and C are not appropriate:

A) Sending the unused portion to the pharmacy is not typically the responsibility of the nurse, and it may not be a practical or safe option for controlled substances.

B) Having a second nurse verify disposal of the unused portion is not a standard practice for oral medication administration.

C) Keeping the unused portion in the client's medication drawer is not an appropriate method of handling unused controlled substances, as it lacks the necessary security and accountability measures.