A young client tells the nurse that the client's spouse died 3 months ago, and the client is feeling alone and vulnerable. Which statement indicates that the client's coping skills are adequate?

Prior to meeting with a client who is experiencing complicated grieving, the nurse should engage in self-reflection and examine their own attitudes, biases, and emotional responses related to loss and grieving. This is important because the nurse's own experiences and beliefs can influence their ability to provide empathetic and non-judgmental care to the client. By acknowledging and understanding their own feelings and reactions, the nurse can better support the client in their grieving process.

The other options are not appropriate for the following reasons:

B- Evaluating previous methods of interventions: While it is essential for the nurse to have knowledge and skills related to grief counseling and interventions, focusing solely on previous methods may not be helpful for the client's unique situation. Each individual's grieving process is different, and what worked for one client may not work for another.

C- Establishing goals for the process and presenting them to the client: While setting goals for the therapeutic relationship is important, it should be a collaborative process between the nurse and the client. The nurse should work with the client to identify their needs and goals related to the grieving process and develop a plan of care together.

D- Sharing personal information related to loss experienced by the nurse: It is not appropriate for the nurse to share their own personal experiences of loss with the client. The focus of the therapeutic relationship should be on the client's needs and experiences, not the nurse's. Sharing personal information can shift the focus away from the client and may not be helpful or therapeutic for them.

Explanation: This statement is highly inappropriate and victim-blaming. It implies that the client's clothing choices are somehow responsible for the sexual assault they experienced. Victim-blaming is never acceptable and can be harmful to the survivor, making them feel ashamed and responsible for the actions of the perpetrator. As healthcare professionals, nurses should always respond to victims of sexual assault with empathy, compassion, and without judgment.

The other statements (A, C, and D) are all appropriate and acknowledge the seriousness of the situation:

A. "We need to offer the client emotional support especially when obtaining specimens." Explanation: This statement recognizes the need for emotional support during the examination process, which can be distressing for the survivor. Providing emotional support and ensuring the client's comfort and consent during the examination are crucial aspects of caring for a sexual assault survivor.

C. "The client feels like they won't be believed since there was alcohol involved during the date." Explanation: This statement highlights the survivor's feelings and concerns about being believed due to alcohol involvement. It emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for the client, where they can share their experience and receive appropriate care and support.

D. "When the client said 'stop,' that was enough for the perpetrator to get up and walk away." Explanation: This statement indicates an understanding of the importance of consent and acknowledges that the client's clear expression of refusal should have been respected. Understanding and respecting consent is crucial when discussing cases of sexual assault.