The nurse is working with a wife who is caring for her chronically ill husband who requires ...

B
The defining characteristics best fit a nursing diagnosis of Caregiver Role Strain. The caregiver exhibits dysfunctional communication (speaking sharply), is not performing well in the caregiver role (soiled bed linens, patient's body odor), and is experiencing and expressing depressive symptoms. Dysfunctional Family Processes usually include denial of problems, resistance to change, and a series of crises; depression is not a symptom. Defensive coping is more about a falsely positive self-evaluation; this woman does not seem defensive, but admits she is having difficulty. Although the wife's communication may sound angry, her verbal communication is not really impaired. Impaired Verbal Communication is characterized by difficulty in receiving, processing, and/or using words to communicate. Furthermore, a diagnosis of Impaired Verbal Communication would not address the wife's depression and inability to provide satisfactory care.