When a male patient with cardiac arrest has a distraught spouse, which intervention is most appropriate?

• A. Notify hospital security to monitor the wife.
• B. Stay with the significant other until a minister arrives.
• C. Ask the UAP to talk to the wife.
• D. Request the hospital chaplain to provide support.

Answer: (D)

In a crisis, addressing the family’s emotional and spiritual distress is essential to patient-centered care. A hospital chaplain provides immediate, skilled support for the distraught spouse, offering presence, active listening, and guidance that respects the person’s beliefs and values. This helps the spouse cope, process the situation, and receive clear, compassionate communication from the care team, without delaying medical care or introducing unnecessary security measures.

Having a chaplain respond supports holistic care and helps bridge communication between the family and clinicians, which is especially important when news is overwhelming or difficult to hear. While staying with the spouse or having a staff member talk to them can help, only a chaplain is equipped to provide spiritual comfort, address existential distress, and coordinate support in a culturally sensitive way.