A child recently diagnosed with stage IV renal cancer is scheduled for a palliative consultation. When the nurse enters the room, the parent says, "There must be a mistake with the pathology report. My child always been healthy. I want a re-test at a different hospital." Which stage of DABDA is the parent exhibiting?
Denial
DABDA is Kübler-Ross’s model of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.
The parent claims there must be a mistake, insists the child has always been healthy and demands a re-test elsewhere — refusing to accept the diagnosis. This is denial, the first stage, which protects the person from overwhelming shock.
Bargaining would involve “if only…” deals, acceptance would be coming to terms with the diagnosis, and displacement is a defence mechanism, not a DABDA stage.
Hence, Denial.
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Important Questions from Mental Health Nursing
When a nurse combines information about a patient’s verbal communication and nonverbal cues during psychological assessment, what is the nurse primarily aiming to understand?
When caring for a patient experiencing a panic attack, which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A nurse believes that people with mental illness are dangerous. How might this misconception affect her professional behavior?
Which technique is most commonly used in psychosocial therapy to help clients change negative thought patterns?
A nurse is tasked with creating a peer support network for individuals with chronic mental illness in the community. Which action best demonstrates application of the principles of community mental health nursing and promotes empowerment?
