Exam 26: Loss,Death,and Dying in Late Life

The Oregon State Death with Dignity Law:

When working with a bereaved individual,the goal of nursing interventions is to:

The nurse aide reports to the registered nurse that her 97-year-old patient is not breathing well and that she feels "cold and clammy" and "looks blue." The patient has an advance directive that states "comfort care only" and is designated as a DNR (do not resuscitate).The registered nurse should:

An 87-year-old patient who is dying of metastatic ovarian cancer tells the nurse that she is concerned about being discharged home and living alone.She is independent in activities of daily living at present and is eager to maintain this independence for as long as possible.She expresses concern about dying alone and losing control.The nurse determines that the patient's concerns are:

An 82-year-old patient has end-stage congestive heart failure.Her primary care physician requests a consult from the palliative care service to assist in developing a discharge plan of care.Her son asks the nurse,"What is palliative care? Does it mean Mom is going to die in the next few days?" The nurse's best response is:

A woman died after a lengthy illness.Her brother failed to attend the funeral and family gatherings because he was on a drinking binge.He has always been the "black sheep" of the family due,in part,to his history of alcohol abuse.What best describes the brother's behavior?

Select the true statement regarding gender and loss of a spouse.

An 80-year-old woman has been admitted to your acute care facility.She is unconscious and unable to speak for herself,but she had prepared an advance directive stating that her son should make medical decisions on her behalf.You recognize this type of advance directive as:

A nurse was caring for a patient who died of a chronic illness.The family had been present with the patient constantly during the previous week,experiencing the dying process.The family was present when the patient stopped breathing,and had a very emotional reaction as if they were in a state of disbelief.The nurse interprets this behavior to be:

A woman is terminally ill.Although it has never been discussed in the family nor stated outright by her physician,she suspects that she will die because of her illness.This situation is:

The nurse is discussing hospice care with the wife of an 88-year-old patient who has end-stage liver cancer.The wife is worried that Medicare will stop paying for hospice at home if her husband lives longer than 6 months.What can the nurse tell the wife in order to allay her anxiety?

The family of a 78-year-old patient who is dying of colon cancer with metastases to the liver is concerned because he refuses to eat or drink.He is alert and oriented,and states that he has no desire to eat.What should the nurse do?