Colostomy patient discharging; when asked to attempt self-care, patient cries; appropriate intervention?

• A. Offer the patient to meet with a counselor to discuss concerns.
• B. Provide only written instructions.
• C. Tell patient to try again later.
• D. Schedule a home health visit.

Answer: (A)

When a patient shows emotional distress about taking on self-care tasks, the priority is addressing their feelings and providing psychosocial support. Crying signals anxiety, fear, or overwhelm about adjusting to life with a colostomy. Connecting the patient with a counselor offers a space to express concerns, learn coping strategies, and work through body image and adaptation issues. This supports emotional readiness, improves engagement with self-care, and aligns with holistic, patient-centered discharge planning.

Providing only written instructions misses the emotional barriers the patient is facing; telling them to try again later can feel dismissive and does not address the underlying concerns. A home health visit might be helpful later, but the immediate step to reduce distress and foster coping is a referral to counseling or social work to discuss concerns and develop an appropriate support plan.