Question 1

The nurse is assigned to a patient who was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness.During morning care,the patient asks about organ donation.How should the nurse respond?&#10;A) Have the patient first discuss the subject with the family.&#10;B) Suggest that the patient delay making a decision at this time.&#10;C) Assist the patient to obtain the necessary information to make this decision.&#10;D) Contact the physician so that consent can be obtained from the family.

Accepted Answer

It is important for the nurse to assist the patient in obtaining necessary information to make an informed decision about organ donation. The nurse can provide information and resources to help the patient make the decision. Ultimately, it is the patient’s decision and the nurse should empower the patient to make the decision that is best for them. The nurse should also respect the patient’s decision whether it is to donate or not to donate.

Question 2

Which of the following is a procedural guideline for care of the body after death?&#10;A) Remove dentures.&#10;B) Maintain open eyes.&#10;C) Apply name tags, according to agency policy.&#10;D) After the family is gone, discard items found in the patient's room.

Accepted Answer

Applying name tags according to agency policy is a procedural guideline for identifying the deceased and ensuring proper handling and documentation.

Question 3

Which of the following is one of Bowlby's phases of mourning?&#10;A) Acceptance&#10;B) Reorganization&#10;C) Accepting reality of loss&#10;D) Emotionally relocating and moving on

Accepted Answer

Bowlby's phases of mourning include numbing, yearning and searching, disorganization and despair, and reorganization. Reorganization is one of these phases.

Question 4

The newly graduated nurse is assigned to his or her first dying patient.How can the nurse best prepare to care for this patient?&#10;A) Complete a course dealing with death and dying.&#10;B) Control his or her own emotions about death.&#10;C) Draw on the experience of the death of a loved one.&#10;D) Develop an understanding of his or her own feelings about death.

Accepted Answer

Developing an understanding of their own feelings about death can help the nurse provide better care to the dying patient. It allows the nurse to recognize and acknowledge their own emotions, which can improve their ability to provide empathetic and compassionate care to the patient and their family. While completing a course on death and dying or controlling their own emotions are both beneficial, they do not necessarily address the nurse's personal feelings or biases. Drawing on the experience of the death of a loved one may be helpful, but it is not a necessary or universal experience that all nurses have.

Question 5

Which of the following is the primary concern of the nurse in providing care to a dying patient?&#10;A) Promoting optimism in the patient and being a source of encouragement&#10;B) Intervening in the patient's activities of daily living to allow the patient to focus on his or her emotional state&#10;C) Allowing the patient to be alone and expecting isolation on the part of the dying person&#10;D) Selecting interventions designed to maintain the patient's dignity and self-esteem

Accepted Answer

The primary concern of the nurse in providing care to a dying patient is to maintain the patient's dignity and self-esteem. This includes providing physical comfort and emotional support, respecting the patient's wishes, and promoting a sense of control and autonomy. While promoting optimism and being a source of encouragement may be important, it is not the primary concern. Intervening in the patient's activities of daily living may be necessary to address physical needs, but it should not be done at the expense of emotional and psychological support. Allowing the patient to be alone and expecting isolation is not appropriate, as dying patients often benefit from the presence of caring individuals.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true regarding cultural beliefs and death?&#10;A) The ethical decisions surrounding a patient's death should be based on hospital policy and not culture.&#10;B) Maintaining rituals and practices allows a sense of acceptance of the dying process.&#10;C) The nurse must decide which cultural practices will be incorporated in care of the dying.&#10;D) Regardless of culture, following hospital practices will help focus patient and family on the dying process.

Accepted Answer

Maintaining rituals and practices allows for a sense of acceptance of the dying process, which can be important to individuals from different cultures. It is essential for nurses to understand and respect cultural beliefs surrounding death to provide appropriate care. Hospital policies may need to be adapted to accommodate cultural practices, and nurses should work with patients and their families to identify and incorporate those practices. It is not appropriate for nurses to decide which practices to incorporate without first consulting the patient and their family. Following hospital practices alone may not be sufficient to address cultural beliefs surrounding death.

Question 7

Hospice nursing care has a different focus for the dying patient.Which of the following should the nurse know about patient care provided through a hospice?&#10;A) It is designed to meet the patient's individual wishes, as much as possible.&#10;B) It is usually aimed at offering curative treatment for the patient.&#10;C) It is involved in teaching families to provide postmortem care.&#10;D) It does not include an interdisciplinary care team.

Accepted Answer

Hospice nursing care is designed to focus more on meeting the patient's individual wishes and needs, rather than just providing curative treatment. Hospice care also includes an interdisciplinary care team that provides support to both the patient and their family members. While hospice care may involve teaching families about postmortem care, this is not the primary focus.

Question 8

The nurse is discussing future treatments with a patient who has a terminal illness.The nurse notes that the patient has not been eating and responds to the nurse's information by stating,"What does it matter?" Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?

A) Social isolation
B) Hopelessness
C) Denial
D) Powerlessness

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is discussing future treatments with...

Question 9

The nurse is working with a patient on an inpatient hospice unit.Which of the following actions should the nurse take in order to maintain the patient's sense of self-worth during the end of life?&#10;A) Leaving the patient alone to deal with final affairs&#10;B) Calling on the patient's spiritual advisor to take over care&#10;C) Spending time with the patient and allowing him or her to share life experiences&#10;D) Having a grief counsellor visit

Accepted Answer

Spending time with the patient and allowing him or her to share life experiences can help the patient feel heard and validated, which can promote a sense of self-worth. Leaving the patient alone or bringing in a spiritual advisor may not necessarily address the patient's emotional needs during the end of life. While a grief counselor may be helpful, it is important to prioritize the patient's current emotional needs and well-being.

Question 10

An identified outcome for the family of the patient with a terminal illness is that they will be able to provide psychological support to the dying patient.To assist the family to meet this outcome,which of the following should the nurse plan to include in the teaching plan?

A) Demonstration of bathing techniques
B) Application of oxygen devices
C) Recognition of patient needs and fears
D) Information on when to contact the hospice nurse

Accepted Answer

Recognizing patient needs and fears is crucial for providing psychological support, as it helps the family understand and address the emotional and psychological aspects of the patient's experience.

Question 11

The nurse is preparing to assist the patient in the end stage of her life.How should the nurse provide comfort for the patient who is showing fatigue?&#10;A) Spend more time with the patient.&#10;B) Limit the use of analgesics.&#10;C) Provide larger meals with more seasoning.&#10;D) Determine valued activities, and schedule rest periods.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is preparing to assist the...

Question 12

How should the nurse promote the comfort of the terminally ill patient who is experiencing constipation?&#10;A) Offer a low-residue diet.&#10;B) Reduce fluid intake.&#10;C) Administer stool softeners.&#10;D) Protect skin from breakdown.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How should the nurse promote the comfort...

Question 13

Which of the following is a positive way to assist the nurse in coping with the death of a patient?&#10;A) Avoiding attending the patient's funeral&#10;B) Avoiding being present at the time of death&#10;C) Writing a letter of sympathy to the family&#10;D) Focusing on providing palliative care to the next patient

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a positive...

Question 14

A patient has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the liver and is receiving chemotherapy on a medical unit.In an in-depth conversation with the nurse,the patient states,"It can't be happening to me." According to Kübler-Ross,with which of the following is this stage of dying associated?

A) Anxiety
B) Denial
C) Confrontation
D) Depression

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient has been diagnosed with terminal...

Question 15

The nurse recognizes that anticipatory grieving can be most beneficial to a patient or family for which of the following reasons?&#10;A) It can be done in private.&#10;B) It can be discussed with others.&#10;C) It can promote separation of the ill patient from the family.&#10;D) It allows time to say goodbye and complete life affairs before death.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse recognizes that anticipatory grieving can...

Deck 28: The Experience of Loss, death, and Grief