Deck 13: Loss, Grief, and Death

Question 1

A client recently and unexpectedly lost a spouse.The period of time following this type of loss is commonly referred to as:

A)bereavement
B)externalization
C)maturation
D)mourning

Answer 1

bereavement

Question 2

A person is experiencing dysfunctional grief and continues to focus on the deceased person.Which of these forms BEST explains the type of dysfunctional grief described?

A)acute
B)delayed
C)anticipatory
D)low key

Answer 2

delayed

Question 3

What kind of grief describes the grief of a family member who begins the grieving process before a loss actually happens?

A)anticipatory grief
B)disenfranchised grief
C)dysfunctional grief
D)uncomplicated grief

Answer 3

anticipatory grief

Question 4

After experiencing a loss,a person moves to which of these adaptive responses?

A)mourning
B)bereavement
C)separation
D)anxiety

Question 5

When an individual continues to experience grief despite the fact that others feel the loss was insignificant,the grief is considered to be:

A)chronic
B)delayed
C)exaggerated
D)masked

Question 6

What is the MOST important role nurses can play in assisting clients to grieve?

A)maintaining a close physical presence to them
B)urging them to resume normal routines as soon as possible
C)encouraging them to experience their feelings to the fullest so they can work through these feelings
D)suggesting they attend special groups that provide support

Question 7

What are the three stages of grief?

A)anticipation,experience,and integration
B)withdrawal,recovery,and engagement
C)suppression,repression,and return
D)shock,reality,and recovery

Question 8

An older adult is no longer able to maintain independent living and relocates to an assisted-living facility.What type of loss does this represent?

A)aspect of self
B)significant other
C)external object
D)familiar environment

Question 9

When a person dies unexpectedly,which type of grief response can usually be expected in surviving loved ones after the initial shock?

A)uncomplicated recovery
B)traumatic imagery
C)chronic anxiety
D)sleep disturbances

Question 10

A client having a mastectomy might experience what type of loss?

A)actual and situational
B)physiologic and psychological
C)anticipated and situational
D)maturational and physiologic

Question 11

A sense of loss that can be felt by the individual but is not evident to others represents what kind of loss?

A)tangible
B)intangible
C)perceived
D)anticipated

Question 12

A client who expects to lose a foot as a result of diabetes mellitus would experience what type of loss?

A)situational
B)maturational
C)anticipated
D)perceived

Question 13

When a person is unable to recognize a sense of loss and develops guilt feelings,what type of grief is the person experiencing?

A)disenfranchised
B)delayed
C)displaced
D)distorted

Question 14

The loss of someone or something,such as the death of a loved one or the theft of one's property,represents what kind of loss?

A)actual
B)anticipated
C)situational
D)perceived

Question 15

Which of these terms refers to any situation where a person or object is changed or becomes inaccessible?

A)bereavement
B)change
C)grief
D)loss

Question 16

Factors that affect loss and grief include such things as developmental stage,religious and cultural beliefs,and:

A)cause of death
B)previous experience with death
C)self-concept
D)educational status

Question 17

When a nurse is talking with a young child about the death of a grandparent,which of these statements reflects the BEST approach?

A)"Grandpa has just gone away."
B)"Grandpa is sleeping quietly."
C)"Grandpa had a severe stroke that compromised his cerebrovascular system."
D)"Grandpa died because he was very sick."

Question 18

A client is being treated for severe depression following the death of his wife.A nurse asks about removing a tattered piece of fabric from his hand,when he starts moaning and says,"It was Stella's." What type of grief is this client experiencing?

A)anticipated
B)dysfunctional
C)normal
D)maturational

Question 19

A loss of freedom occurring as an individual accepts the responsibility of a first full-time job after completing school represents what kind of loss?

A)actual
B)maturational
C)anticipated
D)perceived

Question 20

Which of these statements about grief is TRUE?

A)It is prolonged and dysfunctional.
B)It involves intense psychological and physical responses occurring after a loss.
C)It is abnormal in many situations.
D)It occurs primarily in highly civilized societies.

Question 21

The health care provider suspects that a recently deceased client with cancer may have had more than one underlying cause of death and would like an autopsy performed.What must happen for this to occur?

A)Nothing must happen,as an autopsy is mandatory in cases like this.
B)The coroner must order it.
C)The family must give consent.
D)The health care provider must write an order on the client's chart when making a final progress note.

Question 22

When a client provides written instruction of their personal choices related to health care that is recognized under state law,the nurse recognizes that this is considered:

A)an advance directive
B)a health care provider's order
C)a durable power of attorney for health care
D)a living will

Question 23

A client has a living will stating no life-sustaining measures be performed,but does not have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR)order on the chart.If the nurse finds the client unconscious and unresponsive,which action should be taken?

A)Alert the family and follow their instructions regarding life-saving measures.
B)Call the health care provider for orders.
C)Do nothing.
D)Initiate resuscitation measures.

Question 24

In providing postmortem care to a client who will not be having an autopsy,the nurse should:

A)leave dressings and tubes undisturbed
B)place dentures in the client's mouth if they were normally worn
C)place the body in alignment with the head elevated
D)place the client's personal belongings in a bag to be transported with the body to the funeral home

Question 25

Which stage of dying is represented when a client who is dying says,"Please let me live to see my daughter graduate from college"?

A)denial
B)anger
C)bargaining
D)acceptance

Question 26

If an individual's spouse is asked to make health care decisions for the spouse,which of these legal actions is being implemented?

A)durable power of attorney for health care
B)Good Samaritan law
C)health care surrogate law
D)Patient Self-Determination Act

Question 27

Which of these physiologic needs would the nurse initially find MOST problematic for the terminally ill client?

A)respirations
B)nutrition
C)exercise
D)skin care

Question 28

When a dying client has artificial nutrition and hydration withheld,which of the following symptoms decrease? (Select all that apply. )

A)vomiting
B)abdominal pain
C)skin rashes
D)pulse
E)loss of bladder control
F)shortness of breath

Question 29

After the family has viewed the body of the deceased and the nurse has placed the identification tags,the next step in postmortem care before transporting the body to the morgue or mortuary is to:

A)bathe the body and dress it in a clean gown
B)close the client's eyes
C)place the body in a shroud
D)remove all tubes and dressings

Question 30

What is the nurse's FIRST priority when implementing care for a client who is dying?

A)providing technically proficient care to the client
B)supporting the client's family
C)communicating caring to the client and family
D)assisting the family in making funeral arrangements

Question 31

The nurse is caring for a dying client.Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to control the client's pain? (Select all that apply. )

A)assess pain level every 4 hours
B)administer pain medications in a timely manner around the clock
C)delay pain medication if the client is asleep
D)evaluate the effectiveness of the pain medications frequently
E)administer oxygen
F)address break-through pain in a timely manner

Question 32

When a nurse is caring for a dying client,which of these nursing interventions would address the client's spiritual needs?

A)using touch
B)making small talk with the client and family
C)keeping the client's room dark and quiet
D)ensuring that other staff do not disturb the client and family

Question 33

What kind of care for terminally ill clients is provided when the main goal is allowing the client to die with dignity?

A)home
B)hospice
C)intensive
D)palliative

Question 34

A client who is terminally ill says he or she feels satisfied with the life God has provided and with the life choices made.Which stage of the Kübler-Ross stages of dying has the client successfully completed?

A)bereavement stage
B)grief work stage
C)the bargining stage
D)the acceptance stage

Question 35

Providing care that is symptomatic but will not alter the course of disease is called:

A)hospitable
B)managed
C)palliative
D)therapeutic

Question 36

The appearance of which of these signs indicates the beginning of pulmonary system failure in the dying client?

A)Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B)episodic breathing
C)respiratory distress
D)the death rattle

Question 37

Immediately after a client's death and before the body is moved to the mortuary,which of these actions should the nurse take?

A)Obtain permission for an autopsy.
B)Cancel arrangements for hospice care.
C)Administer palliative care.
D)Give postmortem care.