What is the best question for a nurse to ask a client to initiate a conversation about advance directives?

Initiating a conversation about advance directives involves creating a comfortable and open environment for discussing sensitive topics related to health care decisions. The option that prompts the client to consider their support system, as well as their own thoughts on their health care wishes, serves as a more effective starting point.

Asking about who the client talks to regarding their health care decisions helps to identify important people in their life who may be involved in advance care planning. This question encourages the client to reflect on their relationships and how they communicate about their health, setting the stage for deeper discussions about their wishes and preferences for future medical care.

Engaging the client in a conversation about their support network also makes it easier to provide guidance on how to document those wishes. It can open up a dialogue about advance directives without overwhelming the client right away with direct questions about their preferences or treatments, which can sometimes feel confrontational or distressing.

The other options, while they address important considerations regarding medical care preferences, do not create the same level of openness or assess the client's current conversations with others about their health care, which is a crucial element in the process of advance care planning.