A 19-year-old male is seriously ill with cystic fibrosis (CF), which he has had since infancy. He is frequently hospitalized for lung infections and is in need of a lung transplant. However, he has a...

A 19-year-old male is seriously ill with cystic fibrosis (CF), which he has had since infancy. He is frequently hospitalized for lung infections and is in need of a lung transplant. However, he has a rare blood type that complicates the process of obtaining a donor organ. He has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated successfully since midadolescence with medication and therapy. How should the nurse on the unit on which he is hospitalized for pneumonia interpret his request for a chaplain to help him make plans for a funeral and donation of his body to science after death?

1. It is a signal of the depressive side of his bipolar disorder, and he should be checked for suicidal thoughts/plans.

2. It is a signal of an exacerbation of the client's CF and warrants further assessment by his lung specialist.

3. It is a signal of the client's awareness he is likely to have a shortened life span and should be supported by unit staff.

4. It is a signal of delirium as a result of the many medications he is taking and requires further assessment by the pharmacist or primary care provider.