How should a nurse respond to a family concerned that a patient is being starved due to not receiving tube feeding?

The response that the nurse should provide to the family expressing concern about the patient being starved due to not receiving tube feeding is that "her body cannot handle nutrition at this stage." This answer acknowledges the complex nature of the patient’s condition and the physiological changes that occur in advanced illness.

Patients nearing the end of life often experience alterations in their metabolism and bodily functions that impact their ability to process food and nutrients effectively. At this stage, the body may naturally reduce its need for nutrition, and introducing tube feeding could lead to complications such as aspiration, discomfort, or may not provide any benefit.

Understanding this aspect is critical for families to help them make sense of the care decisions involving patients in palliative stages. By providing this information, the nurse can support the family in recognizing that the focus of care is on comfort rather than on prolonging life through interventions that may no longer be appropriate or beneficial. This compassionate communication can foster trust and help ease the family's worries about starvation, as it emphasizes the care team's commitment to the patient’s overall well-being.