A patient has been admitted for surgery for a colostomy. The patient states, "I can't believe this has happened to me." What is the nurse's best response?

A. Placing the soiled linen on the floor before bagging it is unsanitary and violates infection control principles. It increases the risk of spreading pathogens to other surfaces, potentially contaminating the environment.

B. Placing clean linen that touched the floor in the soiled linen bag prevents cross-contamination and maintains cleanliness. It adheres to infection control standards by ensuring that only soiled items are disposed of appropriately.

C. Holding the soiled linen against her body while carrying it to the linen bag risks transferring pathogens to the caregiver's clothing and skin, compromising personal hygiene and promoting contamination.

D. Shaking the soiled linen to remove any toilet paper remnants is ineffective and hazardous. It disperses potentially infectious particles, increasing the risk of contamination and compromising infection control efforts.

A. Disenfranchised grief:
Disenfranchised grief occurs when the loss experienced by an individual is not openly acknowledged or socially supported. This type of grief may occur when the relationship with the deceased is not recognized or valued by others, such as in the case of a non-traditional relationship. In this scenario, the client's grief is acknowledged but persists beyond what is considered a typical mourning period, suggesting a different type of grief.

B. Anticipatory grief:
Anticipatory grief occurs when individuals experience feelings of loss before the actual loss or death occurs. This often happens in situations where death is expected due to a terminal illness. Since the client's partner has already died, anticipatory grief does not apply in this case.

C. Prolonged grief:
This is the correct answer. Prolonged grief, also known as complicated grief, occurs when the grieving process persists over an extended period, beyond what is considered typical or socially acceptable. Individuals experiencing prolonged grief may have difficulty accepting the reality of the loss and may continue to experience intense emotions related to the loss for an extended period, often interfering with their daily functioning.

D. Uncomplicated grief:
Uncomplicated grief refers to a normal and typical response to loss that typically resolves over time. While grief is a natural response to loss, uncomplicated grief does not persist for an extended period or significantly impair the individual's ability to function in their daily life. In this scenario, the client's continued inability to accept the loss suggests that the grief may be more complex than uncomplicated grief.