The husband of a terminally ill client says he's overwhelmed and many stressors. Which statement by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

• A. You should try to ignore your stress.
• B. Let's talk more about what has been helpful to you in the past.
• C. This is caused by your wife's illness; nothing you can do.
• D. Medication will solve your problems.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is therapeutic communication that validates the caregiver’s stress and reinforces coping by drawing on what has helped him before. Saying, “Let’s talk more about what has been helpful to you in the past” opens a supportive, collaborative conversation. It acknowledges the husband’s overwhelm, invites him to reflect on previous coping strategies, and reinforces a sense of control and self-efficacy. This approach helps him identify practical ways to manage current stress and feel heard, which is essential when supporting someone facing a family member’s terminal illness.

Ignore-your-stress advice dismisses feelings and can leave the caregiver feeling unseen. Blaming the illness and saying there’s nothing he can do removes his sense of agency and misses opportunities to discuss actionable support. Suggesting that medication alone will solve the problems reduces a complex emotional and psychosocial burden to a single fix, which is unlikely to address the ongoing stress and needs of both the caregiver and patient. In this context, focusing on past coping successes provides a constructive path forward and aligns with compassionate, patient-centered care.