For a client with spiritual distress related to a loss of hope due to impending death, what is an appropriate nursing goal?

• A. Assist and support the client in establishing short-term goals
• B. Provide constant emotional support only
• C. Encourage acceptance of death without goals
• D. Focus on curative treatment

Answer: (A)

When a client experiences spiritual distress from a loss of hope near the end of life, the best approach is to help them regain a sense of meaning and control through short-term goals. Establishing small, achievable goals provides structure, reinforces autonomy, and offers concrete ways to cope with what’s next. These goals can be as simple as arranging a meaningful conversation with a loved one, completing a personal task, creating a goodbye message, or engaging in a preferred ritual or practice. By focusing on attainable steps, the client can experience purposeful moments and a renewed sense of hope within the reality of impending death.

Emotional support is important, but it doesn’t by itself create the purposeful frame that short-term goals offer. Encouraging acceptance without any goals can lead to passive coping, and prioritizing curative treatment when the client is nearing end of life may not address spiritual needs or help reframe the experience in a meaningful way.