A nurse is caring for a client who has a newly created colostomy. The client’s partner tells the nurse that the client refuses to look at the stoma. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A reason: Suggesting a support group helps the client address emotional resistance to the colostomy through peer support. This fosters psychological adjustment, reduces stigma, and promotes self-management by sharing experiences, aligning with evidence-based strategies to improve coping and adaptation in clients with new ostomies. Choice B reason: Encouraging avoidance of negative feelings dismisses the client’s emotional response, hindering psychological adaptation. Accepting a colostomy requires processing grief and fear. Suppressing emotions delays coping, as psychological adjustment involves acknowledging feelings to integrate the stoma into the client’s self-image effectively. Choice C reason: Instructing the partner to assume colostomy care undermines the client’s autonomy and delays self-management. Independence in stoma care is critical for psychological and practical adaptation. Dependency may hinder adjustment, as clients need to develop skills to manage their condition independently. Choice D reason: Transferring to a rehabilitation facility is premature without trying in-hospital education or support groups. Most clients learn stoma care with nursing guidance. Transfer disrupts care continuity and may increase distress, failing to address emotional resistance directly, unlike peer support interventions.