Deck 20: Loss and End-Of-Life Issues

Question 1

A 68-year-old client who has recently lost his wife of 50 years shares with the nurse that he'll, "never get over missing her." The nurse is most therapeutic when responding:

A)"We are here to help you anyway we can."
B)"Focus on the beautiful memories you have of her and your life together."
C)"Time will help you adjust to your loss."
D)"You'll never get over your loss but you can learn to live with it."

Answer 1

"You'll never get over your loss but you can learn to live with it."

Question 2

The nurse is caring for an older adult who recently lost an adult child as a result of automobile accident.They shared a home and enjoyed a healthy parent-child relationship.The nurse is confident that the client has progressed appropriately through the mourning process when she:

A)tells family members that her son is "in a better place."
B)arranges for personal grief counseling.
C)cries softly during the families first year memorial service.
D)plans a summer vacation with friends from work.

Answer 2

plans a summer vacation with friends from work.

Question 3

When a 66-year-old client dies as a result of surgical complications, the nurse begins to facilitate the family's acceptance of their loss by:

A)preparing each family member sufficiently prior to viewing the body of their loved one.
B)presenting the body of their loved one in an appropriate, respectful manner.
C)assuring them that the client received the best possible care post surgery.
D)providing them with an effective explanation of the problems that caused the client's death.

Answer 3

providing them with an effective explanation of the problems that caused the client's death.

Question 4

An older adult man has been the primary caregiver for his chronically ill wife for the last 10 years.When his wife dies, the nurse prepares the family for the likely possibility that their father will express:

A)guilt that he is alive while she is dead.
B)deep despair for his loss.
C)personal relief that she has died.
D)concern that he could have cared for her better.

Question 5

The nurse shows an understanding of the primary factor that facilitates the adjustment to the loss of a spouse when asking:

A)"Are you planning to continue to run your flower shop?"
B)"How long were you and your husband married?"
C)"Does your son and his family live nearby?"
D)"Do you consider yourself a religious person?"

Question 6

The nurse documents that a newly widowed older adult client is likely experiencing physical grief responses when she:

A)becomes hypotensive.
B)has difficulty getting up from the chair.
C)reports having difficulty swallowing.
D)develops a red rash over her upper chest and back.

Question 7

While the family of a newly widowed older adult client lives several hours away, they are interested in providing their mother with appropriate support.The nurse suggests it would be most helpful if they would:

A)telephone her daily and arrange for a neighbor to help with the shopping.
B)assume responsibility for paying her bills and upkeep of her home.
C)encourage her to move into a smaller home and learn to drive.
D)include her in their yearly vacation and pay to have her nails done weekly.

Question 8

The nurse is confident that an older adult is successfully completing the tasks associated with mourning his wife's death when he:

A)shares that, "No amount of wishing will bring her back."
B)openly cries in the presence of family and friends.
C)takes cooking classes at the local community college.
D)takes a female acquaintance to the movies.

Question 9

A novice hospice nurse shows the best understanding of the nursing role related to an older adult client's mourning over the loss of her son when stating:

A)"I see mourning as a very individualized process."
B)"Her coping skills need to be assessed regularly."
C)"She needs all the help I can give her to get better."
D)"Hopefully she will be in a healthy mental state soon."

Question 10

A hospice nurse shows the best understanding of the personal commitment to the dying client by:

A)providing the client with sufficient, effective pain management therapies.
B)addressing the client's need to feel valued by those attending to his or her death.
C)being available emotionally and physically throughout the entire dying process.
D)empathizing with the client and his or her family and friends during the process.

Question 11

The nurse determines that the daughter of a widowed older adult client has a poor understanding of the grieving process when she reports that:

A)"Mom is going to be okay; she is a strong, independent woman."
B)"It's been 16 months since dad died but mom still hasn't moved on with her life."
C)"My mother has agreed to come and live with me for at least a little while."
D)"My mom cries when she looks at pictures of dad but I think she needs to cry."

Question 12

The nurse documents that a client is likely experiencing exaggerated grief when she:

A)keeps telling family and friends that her husband "can't be dead."
B)re-reads her late husband's diaries nightly since his death 2 years ago.
C)develops severe abdominal pains on each anniversary of her husband's death.
D)becomes agitated whenever someone refers to her as a widow.

Question 13

The nurse evaluates how an older adult client will react to the death of a spouse based on how he:

A)expressed concern for his wife during her prolonged illness.
B)reacted when his beloved dog was sent to live with his son.
C)demonstrates his philosophy of health and happiness.
D)expresses how his wife's illness has impacted their life together.