Practice Question
A nurse is providing care for a client who has recently returned from active combat and experienced the loss of a close friend during combat. Which of the following client statements indicates that the client is experiencing traumatic grief?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
"I should have been the one who had been killed instead of my friend."
Rationale:
🔶 Traumatic grief often involves persistent guilt surrounding the circumstances of a loved one's death, especially when the individual believes they should have died instead.
🔶 This statement reflects clear survivor guilt, which is one of the most characteristic emotional responses in traumatic grief following combat-related loss.
🔶 Clients experiencing traumatic grief frequently struggle with intrusive regret that disrupts emotional processing and prevents healthy mourning.
🔶 The expression of self-blame indicates that the client is internalizing responsibility for the traumatic event, which is a key hallmark of traumatic grief responses.
🔶 Persistent thoughts of “should have been me” demonstrate difficulty reconciling the trauma and loss, showing the grief has become complicated and maladaptive.
"When I have flashbacks, it feels like my heart is going to beat through my chest."
🔶 This statement reflects symptoms of acute anxiety and hyperarousal rather than traumatic grief.
🔶 Flashbacks are associated with post-traumatic stress responses, not specifically the guilt-based features of traumatic grief.
"I can't cry when I talk about my friend because soldiers aren't supposed to show emotions."
🔶 This statement suggests emotional suppression taught by military culture, not the guilt-centered thoughts typical of traumatic grief.
🔶 Difficulty crying may occur for many reasons, but it does not specifically indicate traumatic grief.
"It has been more than a year, and I still don't want to leave the house."
🔶 Avoidance lasting more than a year reflects impaired functioning but is more consistent with major depressive disorder or PTSD.
🔶 Traumatic grief centers on guilt and distress tied directly to the loss rather than isolation as the primary manifestation.
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This question is from PN Mental Health fall 2025 Exam which contains 52 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN HESI Exams
- Domain: Mental Health
- Answer Choices: 4