A nurse is providing instruction to a postpartum client about newborn abduction. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Rationale:

A. “Tell me how you are feeling about your mom dying.” This is a therapeutic communication technique (exploring feelings). It invites the daughter to express her emotions and concerns, which helps the nurse assess her coping ability. It also demonstrates empathy and openness, which can relieve anxiety and facilitate a supportive discussion about death and dying.

B. “Tell her not to worry. She still has plenty of time left.” This response provides false reassurance, which minimizes the daughter’s feelings and denies the reality of the situation. It prevents honest communication and may increase guilt or confusion if the client’s condition worsens quickly. Nurses should avoid false reassurance in end-of-life care.

C. “Hospice will take good care of your mom, so I wouldn't worry about that.” This response dismisses the daughter’s emotional concern. The daughter’s worry is not about hospice care itself but about how to communicate with her dying mother. This shifts focus away from the daughter’s emotional needs and does not facilitate meaningful conversation.

D. “You sound like you have questions about your mom dying. Let’s talk about it.” This response uses reflection and invitation to talk, which helps the daughter verbalize her fears or uncertainties. It opens a safe space for discussion and demonstrates the nurse’s willingness to listen without judgment, promoting trust.

E. “Let’s talk about your mom’s cancer and how things will progress from here.” This response provides factual information and helps prepare the daughter for what to expect, reducing anxiety and uncertainty. It also encourages anticipatory guidance, which is key in hospice and palliative care, supporting both the client and the family emotionally and psychologically.

A. Butorphanol (an opioid agonist-antagonist) can cause respiratory depression in the newborn if administered close to delivery; not safe during second-stage labor.

B. Naloxone is not a pain management drug, it reverses opioid effects and would not provide analgesia.

C. Spinal anesthesia is typically used for cesarean delivery, not for a woman already pushing in the second stage of labor.

D. A pudendal block provides local perineal anesthesia for the late second stage of labor, episiotomy, or delivery. It does not affect maternal consciousness or fetal status, making it safe during pushing.