The single mother of a child with a head injury is sitting at the child's bedside crying when the practical nurse (PN) enters the room. The mother states, "Why did this happen to my child? I just can't cope with this." What is the best initial response by the PN?

A. "Do you have someone who can help you cope with this?": Exploring support systems is important later, but the initial response should focus on acknowledging the mother’s emotions and providing empathy before moving to problem-solving. B. "This must appear devastating to you at this moment.": This response shows empathy and emotional validation, allowing the mother to express her feelings openly. It builds rapport and demonstrates understanding, which is the most appropriate first step in offering emotional support. C. "You can best help your child by remaining calm and positive.": Although encouraging calmness is helpful, this response minimizes the mother’s distress and may make her feel guilty for her emotional reaction, which is inappropriate at this time. D. "What was happening right before your child was injured?": Asking about the event shifts focus away from the mother’s emotional needs and could intensify her guilt or distress, rather than providing immediate support and comfort.