Deck 43: Loss, Grieving, and Death

Question 1

The nurse is assigning support personnel to assist the families of clients who have died in dealing with the stress related to the loss of their family members.Which family would the nurse screen as at highest risk for complicated grief? The family of a client who

A)died after a long battle against cancer.
B)died after developing diabetes-induced renal failure.
C)was killed in the robbery of a bank.
D)died from chronic heart disease.

Answer 1

was killed in the robbery of a bank.

Question 2

A client who has AIDS tells the nurse,"I don't know why I should even keep trying.This disease is so horrible and so many people die from it.It will get me,too." The nurse recognizes this statement as being

A)an indication of hopelessness that should be further evaluated for treatment.
B)a simple statement of the facts regarding AIDS.
C)common and expected in those facing the end of life.
D)proof that the client is accepting the facts of the illness and impending death.

Answer 2

an indication of hopelessness that should be further evaluated for treatment.

Question 3

A client hospitalized for injuries from a motor vehicle crash is diagnosed with higher brain death.What findings support this client's diagnosis?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Episodic coughing
B)No cephalic reflexes
C)Not breathing spontaneously
D)Inconsistent cardiac function on the heart monitor
E)Electroencephalogram showed no activity for 30 minutes

Answer 3

No cephalic reflexes
Not breathing spontaneously
Electroencephalogram showed no activity for 30 minutes

Question 4

During the bath,the client suddenly says,"I am not going to get well.I think I am going to die." What response given by the nurse is most appropriate?

A)"Let's think of something more cheerful."
B)"You are doing so well;don't talk like that."
C)"What makes you think you are dying?"
D)"Whatever is meant to be will happen."

Question 5

The nurse is counseling a family in which a member is terminally ill.The family has children of varying ages.What should the nurse teach the family about the reactions of children to death?

A)Toddlers perceive death as irreversible and unnatural.
B)Preschool children view death as a spiritual release.
C)At about age 9,children begin to understand that death is inevitable.
D)Adolescents tend to have better outcomes than adults after a loss.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for the family of a terminally ill client.The family members have been tearful and sad since the diagnosis was given.What is the best nursing diagnosis problem statement for this family?

A)Anticipatory Grieving
B)Dysfunctional Grieving
C)Hopelessness
D)Caregiver Role Strain

Question 7

During a home visit,an older male client tells the nurse that his wife died 3 years ago.What did the nurse observe as an indication that this client is experiencing complicated grief?

A)The client has an album of photographs of his wife open on the living room table.
B)He tells the nurse that his wife was an awful cook and that he has eaten better meals since she died.
C)He indicates that he sends his laundry out to be done because he had never figured out how the washer works.
D)He shows the nurse his wife's craft room that remains just as she left it before she died.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a client whose family does not want to tell him that he is dying.What is the nurse's best action according to these wishes?

A)Arrange an encounter with the client and tell him the truth.
B)Change the subject when the client asks about his impending death.
C)Tell the family that the patient has the right to know that he is dying.
D)Talk to the family about the situation and their concerns.

Question 9

The nurse critically evaluates various models of grief used for terminally ill clients and their families.What should the nurse recognize when applying these models to individual cases?

A)The Kübler-Ross model is primarily used to describe anticipatory grief.
B)No clear timetables exist,nor are there clear-cut stages of grief.
C)The models serve as clear and definitive predictors of grief behaviors.
D)There is strong research proving that these models are not useful for many dying clients.

Question 10

The nurse who is providing postmortem care for a client sees that the client is wearing a ring.What is the most important action regarding this observation?

A)Remove the ring and give it to the family.
B)Call the presence of the ring to the attention of the funeral director.
C)Tape the ring to the client's finger.
D)Document fully whatever action is taken.

Question 11

A client recovering from back surgery is seen crying softly in bed.Upon assessment,the nurse learns that the client has been told of the future inability to perform certain sports,activities,and employment types because of the surgery.The nurse interprets this client's reaction as a response to which type of loss?

A)Situational loss
B)Anticipatory loss
C)Psychological loss
D)Developmental loss

Question 12

The spouse of a deceased client is working through the stages of grief.If the nurse applies Martocchio's five clusters of grief to this situation,the spouse would progress through the clusters in which order?
Standard Text: Click and drag the options below to move them up or down.

A)Reorganization and restitution
B)Yearning and protest
C)Identification in bereavement
D)Shock and disbelief
E)Anguish,disorganization,and despair

Question 13

A client who has just been diagnosed with a slowly progressive terminal illness asks the nurse about the availability of hospice services.What information should the nurse share with this client?

A)When clients are designated as terminally ill,they are automatically assigned to hospice care.
B)Hospice services are generally reserved for those who have a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
C)Only those clients with private insurance can receive hospice benefits.
D)Provision of hospice services is reserved only for those who refuse other palliative treatments.

Question 14

A client is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is demonstrating anxiety.What intervention can the nurse use to help the client at this time?

A)Explore the client's history with other stressful life events and how successful coping was at that time.
B)Teach the family that while talking with the client about death and dying is permissible,they should not allow the client to dwell on death.
C)Supply information about the client's disease process and the expected trajectory of death only on a need-to-know basis.
D)Encourage early pharmaceutical intervention with antianxiety and sedative medications.

Question 15

The family of a young adult client who has recently been diagnosed with a rapidly progressing terminal illness tells the nurse,"This cannot be happening.There must be some mistake in the testing." What should be the nurse's first step in assisting this family?

A)Provide structure and continuity to promote feelings of security.
B)Examine the nurse's own feelings to ensure denial is not shared.
C)Offer spiritual support.
D)Allow the family to express sadness.

Question 16

The client has a documented advance health care directive that indicates that no resuscitative measures should be employed in the event of a respiratory or cardiac arrest.The client begins to exhibit severe dyspnea and air hunger and says,"Please do something,I can't breathe." What action should be taken by the nurse?

A)Offer the client comfort measures until death occurs.
B)Call the client's physician for direction.
C)Initiate resuscitative measures.
D)Check the medical record to ascertain the terms of the directive.

Question 17

The client tells the nurse that she has been having problems sleeping since her boss died unexpectedly 3 weeks ago.She confides that she and the boss had been having a secret extramarital affair for years.The nurse recognizes that the sleeping difficulty is most likely a result of which type of grief?

A)Abbreviated
B)Chronic
C)Disenfranchised
D)External

Question 18

The nurse is caring for a child who is dying.What is the most important communication strategy for the nurse to use at this time?

A)Talk to the child at the appropriate level of understanding.
B)Be totally open and honest with the child.
C)Avoid discussing death with the child.
D)Encourage the family to talk with the child about the impending death.

Question 19

An older client has just relocated from home to an assisted living facility.The nurse is concerned because the client has been withdrawn and is crying periodically throughout the day.What type of loss is this client demonstrating?

A)External objects
B)Familiar environment
C)Loved ones
D)Psychological

Question 20

A client with end-stage renal disease knows that he is dying but refuses to talk about it with his spouse.At times the spouse talks with the nursing staff about the client's condition but adamantly refuses to discuss death with the client.What will be the outcomes of this situation?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Client has dignity
B)Client has privacy
C)Client can finalize affairs
D)Client can plan own funeral
E)Client burdened with no one to confide in

Question 21

The nurse is concerned that a client is experiencing complicated grieving after the unexpected death of a son.The nurse most likely assessed
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)the client's denying the son's death.
B)depression.
C)sudden weight loss because of not eating.
D)crying.
E)verbalizing the desire to not live anymore.

Question 22

While caring for a client who is approaching death,the nurse notices the client's facial expression of extreme sadness.What should the nurse do?

A)Leave the client alone.
B)Provide physical care to increase comfort.
C)Acknowledge the client's expression,and ask whether the client would like to talk about her feelings.
D)Offer to provide pain medication.

Question 23

The spouse of a dying client is sitting quietly in the client's room,looking at the floor.What can the nurse do to help the client and spouse during this time?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Encourage the spouse to move closer to the client,if desired.
B)Permit the spouse to sit alone.
C)Leave the spouse and client in the room alone together as much as possible.
D)Recommend that the spouse return home to get some rest.
E)Suggest the spouse read to the client,if desired.

Question 24

A terminally ill client is demonstrating gurgling respirations.The nurse realizes that this client is

A)improving.
B)experiencing pain.
C)trying to talk.
D)nearing death.

Question 25

The nurse determines that a client,after learning of the death of a close family member,is demonstrating normal signs of grief.What did the nurse assess in this client?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Crying
B)Weakness
C)Inability to sleep
D)No appetite
E)Inability to concentrate on conversations

Question 26

When observing an older client's response upon learning of the death of a close family friend,the nurse realizes that the significance of the loss to the client is dependent upon which factors
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Importance of the person to the client
B)Amount of changes that will occur because of the loss
C)The client's beliefs
D)The client's values
E)The client's socioeconomic status

Question 27

The family members of a client who has just died want to spend time with the client.What should the nurse do to prepare the client for the family?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Check the client's religion to make sure care is in compliance with religious expectations.
B)Remove equipment from the room.
C)Permit the family to view the client before postmortem care is done.
D)Change the linens.
E)Place the client in a natural body position.

Question 28

The nurse is planning care to help a client work through the grieving process.What would be appropriate to include in this plan of care?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Listen to the client.
B)Clarify and reflect the client's feelings.
C)Reassure the client that all will be well.
D)Be silent.
E)Provide advice to the client.

Question 29

The nurse determines that a terminally ill client is nearing death.What did the nurse assess to make this clinical decision?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Diarrhea
B)Muscle spasms
C)Slow,weak pulse
D)Decreased blood pressure
E)Cyanosis of the extremities

Question 30

The nurse is providing emotional support to a client who just learned the outcome of a biopsy.What actions will be the best for the nurse to provide at this time?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Encourage the client to resume normal activities on a schedule that promotes physical and psychological health.
B)Use therapeutic communication techniques.
C)Offer choices that promote client autonomy.
D)Provide information about community resources or support groups.
E)Acknowledge the grief of the client.