Exam 25: The Experience of Loss, death, and Grief

A nurse encounters a family whose adult child died last year.The parents are talking about the upcoming anniversary of their child's death.The nurse spends time with them discussing their child's life and death.The nurse's action best demonstrates which nursing principle?

The nurse is discussing future treatments with a patient who has a terminal illness.The nurse notes that the patient has not been eating and responds to the nurse's information by stating,"What does it matter?" What is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?

A man is hospitalized after surgery in which both lower extremities were amputated because of injuries sustained during military service.The nurse should recognize his need to grieve for what type of loss?

Three of the nurse's patients have died during the past 2 days.Which approach is most appropriate to manage the nurse's sadness?

The nurse is preparing to assist the patient in the end stage of her life.The patient is showing signs of fatigue.What should the nurse do to provide comfort for this patient?

A family is grieving after learning of a family member's accidental death.The transplant coordinator requests to talk with the family about possible organ and tissue donation.The nurse recognizes which of the following?

The palliative team's primary obligation to a patient in severe pain includes which of the following?

A severely depressed patient cannot state any positive attributes to his or her life.The nurse patiently sits with this patient and assists the patient to identify several activities the patient would actually look forward to in life.The nurse is helping the patient to demonstrate which spiritual concept?

"I know it seems strange,but I feel guilty being pregnant after the death of my son last year," said a woman during her routine obstetrical examination.The nurse spends extra time with this woman,helping her to better bond with her unborn child.This demonstrates which nursing technique?

A correctional facility nurse is called to the scene of death of an inmate under suspicious circumstances.The correction officer wants to move the body to the funeral home quickly because he is not comfortable with death.The inmate's body will need to be transported where?

Family members gather in the emergency department after learning that a family member was involved in a motor vehicle accident.After learning of the family member's unexpected death,the surviving family members begin to cry and scream in despair.The nurse recognizes this as which stage of Bowlby's attachment theory?

A woman is called into her supervisor's office regarding her deteriorating work performance since the loss of her husband 2 years ago.The woman begins sobbing and saying that she is "falling apart" at home as well.The woman is escorted to the nurse's office,where the nurse recognizes the woman's symptoms as which of the following?

When teaching a group of older persons about cultural beliefs and death,the nurse indicates which of the following?

A terminally ill patient is experiencing constipation secondary to pain medication.What is the best way for the nurse to improve the patient's constipation problem?

During a follow-up visit,a woman is describing new onset of marital discord with her terminally ill spouse.Using the Kübler-Ross behavioural theory,the nurse recognizes that the spouse is in which stage of grief?

After the anticipated demise of a chronically ill patient,the unit nurse is found crying in the staff lounge.What would be the best response to her crying?

Validation of a dying person's life would be demonstrated by which nursing action?

The newly graduated nurse is assigned to his or her first dying patient.How can the nurse best prepare to care for this patient?

A patient with cancer asks the nurse when he or she will be able to access palliative care.On the basis of the knowledge about palliative care,what will the nurse's response be?

Mrs.Harrison's father died a week ago.Mr.Harrison is experiencing headaches and fatigue,and keeps shouting at his wife to turn down the television,although he has not done so in the past.Mrs.Harrison is having trouble sleeping and has no appetite.How should the nurse interpret these assessment findings as the basis for a follow-up assessment?