A nurse prepares a client for an emergent aortic aneurysm open repair. The client states, "I am afraid I might die." What is the nurse's best response?

A. Tell me more about your concerns about the surgery: This response uses therapeutic communication by encouraging the client to express feelings and fears. It is open-ended, acknowledges the client’s anxiety, and allows the nurse to assess specific concerns. B. Would you like to speak with a chaplain prior to surgery: While spiritual support may be helpful, this option changes the focus away from exploring the client’s expressed fear. The nurse should first assess the client’s concerns before offering additional resources. C. What support systems do you have to assist you: This question may be appropriate later, but it does not directly address the client’s immediate fear of dying. The priority is to explore the expressed anxiety. D. This is a routine surgery and the risk of death is very low: Providing false reassurance dismisses the client’s feelings and may undermine trust. Emergent aortic aneurysm repair is a high-risk surgery, so minimizing the risk is inappropriate and nontherapeutic.