A Patient near Death Is Manifesting a Decrease in All

Multiple Choice

A patient near death is manifesting a decrease in all body system functions except for a heart rate of 124 and a respiratory rate of 28. The nurse explains to the family that these symptoms

A) will continue to increase until death finally occurs.
B) are a normal response before these functions decrease.
C) may be associated with an improvement in the patient's condition.
D) indicate a reflex response to the slowing of other body systems.