Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam

What is the most appropriate action for a nurse practitioner when dealing with a patient with protracted grief?

1. Prescribe medication immediately

2. Encourage professional therapy options

3. Suggest coping mechanisms

4. Ignore the grief response

The correct answer is: Encourage professional therapy options

Encouraging professional therapy options for a patient with protracted grief is an appropriate action because protracted grief can significantly impair a person’s functioning and emotional well-being. Professional therapy provides structured support, fostering an environment in which the individual can explore their feelings, process the trauma of their loss, and develop effective coping strategies. Therapeutic interventions, such as grief counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapy, have been shown to be effective in helping individuals who struggle with prolonged grief symptoms. These therapies can guide patients toward acceptance of their loss and help them navigate the emotional complexities involved in grief. Although prescribing medication or suggesting coping mechanisms may have their place in initial management or for temporary relief, they do not address the underlying issues as effectively as professional therapy. Additionally, ignoring the grief response can lead to worse outcomes, as failing to acknowledge or process grief may result in lasting psychological distress. Therefore, referral to professional therapy is the most comprehensive and supportive action a nurse practitioner can take in such circumstances.