The relief of symptoms when a cure is no longer possible is known as:

A. This option assumes that the doctor does not inform patients about terminal illnesses, which may not necessarily be the case. It is more likely that the patient is in denial rather than the doctor not disclosing the diagnosis.

B. Denial is a common defense mechanism in response to distressing or overwhelming information. The patient's statement suggests denial of the terminal diagnosis despite being informed by the doctor. Denial allows individuals to avoid confronting the reality of their situation and can serve as a protective mechanism to cope with the emotional impact of the diagnosis.

C. While it may be important for the patient to have an understanding of their prognosis in order to make informed decisions and final arrangements, pushing the patient to accept the reality of their terminal illness before they are ready may not be helpful and can cause distress.

D. Avoiding conversation about the disease or symptoms may not address the underlying issue of denial and may hinder open communication between the patient and healthcare team. It is important for the nurse to provide support and opportunities for the patient to discuss their feelings and concerns about their illness, while also respecting their coping mechanisms.

A. Informing his primary care provider of his desires: While it's important for the primary care provider to be aware of the patient's wishes, simply informing the provider may not ensure that these desires are respected in the event of a medical crisis. The primary care provider may not be immediately available during an emergency situation.

B. Filing an advance directive with the health care facility: This is the correct response. Advance directives allow individuals to specify their healthcare preferences in advance, including decisions about life-sustaining treatments such as resuscitation, ventilation, and artificial nutrition and hydration. Filing an advance directive ensures that the patient's wishes are documented and legally binding, providing guidance to healthcare providers in the event that the patient becomes unable to communicate or make decisions.

C. Including these desires in his will: While a will can address matters related to the distribution of assets and property after death, it typically does not cover healthcare decisions or preferences regarding end-of-life care. Healthcare preferences should be documented in an advance directive or similar legal document specifically designed for healthcare decisions.

D. Signing a do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate (DNR/DNI) request: While a DNR/DNI request specifies the patient's wishes regarding resuscitation and intubation, it may not cover other aspects of end-of-life care such as the use of IV fluids or feeding tubes. An advance directive provides a more comprehensive framework for expressing end-of-life care preferences beyond just resuscitation and intubation.