A family member expresses guilt about considering hospice for a terminally ill loved one. What is the nurse's best response?

• A. You should feel guilty for not considering hospice earlier.
• B. Hospice care is only for patients with no family support.
• C. It's normal to have mixed feelings, and hospice can provide valuable support.
• D. Ignore those feelings; they won't impact the patient's care.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is recognizing and handling emotions that come with end-of-life decisions. When a family member expresses guilt about considering hospice, the nurse should validate those feelings and provide reassurance that such emotions are common in this situation. The best response normalizes the experience—saying it’s normal to have mixed feelings—and highlights what hospice offers: comprehensive comfort-focused care, symptom management, and strong support for both the patient and the family. This approach helps open honest discussion, aids in aligning care with the patient’s values, and reduces the sense of isolation that can come with difficult choices.

Hospice isn’t about giving up; it’s about enhancing quality of life and providing practical and emotional support. By presenting hospice as a resource that can relieve pain and distress, while also offering caregiver respite and planning support, the nurse helps the family move forward in a way that respects both the patient’s goals and the family’s well-being.

Saying that guilt should have been felt earlier would pressure or shame the family, which isn’t constructive. Claiming hospice is only for families with no support overlooks how hospice actively supports families. Telling them to ignore the feelings dismisses the very emotions that need acknowledgment to make thoughtful decisions. The chosen approach validates feelings and introduces hospice as a valuable support system.