Question 1

Which of the following would lead the home health nurse to make a patient problem of unresolved grief for a patient who was widowed 5 months ago?

Accepted Answer

The patient's tearful statement indicates that she is struggling with the loss of her husband and has not yet fully processed and accepted his death. This suggests unresolved grief, which is a patient problem that requires assessment and intervention. While keeping a picture of her husband and attending church frequently may also be indicators of grief, they do not necessarily indicate unresolved or complicated grief. Choosing to eat out rather than cooking at home can be related to grief but is not a strong indicator on its own.

Question 2

What is the final stage of human growth and development?

Accepted Answer

Death is the final stage of human growth and development where the physical body ceases to function. Choices A, C, and D are all related to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development and refer to the final stage of his model, but they do not represent the final stage of human growth and development as a whole.

Question 3

Upon being told of her father's death,the daughter cries out,"No! Oh,God,no!" What stage of grief is the daughter in?

Accepted Answer

The daughter is in the denial stage of grief, as she is refusing to accept the reality of her father's death.

Question 4

The nurse spends a great deal of time in the room of a dying 12-year-old because the nurse knows that most children are aware of their condition and want the nurse to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Children, including those who are terminally ill, often seek emotional support and care from those around them, including nurses. They want to feel cared for and valued, especially in their vulnerable state.

Question 5

After a health care provider in the emergency department has pronounced a 2-year-old dead following a swimming pool accident,the mother tearfully says to the father,"I am so sorry.I am so sorry." What is the mother expressing?

Accepted Answer

The mother is expressing guilt, possibly feeling responsible for the accident or not doing enough to prevent it.

Question 6

A patient whose spouse died 1 year earlier complains of feeling overwhelmingly lonely and has withdrawn from interpersonal interactions.The patient is demonstrating what stage of dying according to Kübler-Ross's stages of dying theory?

Accepted Answer

The patient is demonstrating symptoms of depression, which is the fourth stage in Kübler-Ross's stages of dying theory. The patient's withdrawal from interpersonal interactions and feelings of overwhelming loneliness are typical of this stage. The other stages are: denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance.

Question 7

A nurse is caring for the dying mother of a 7-year-old child.What is important for the nurse to understand regarding the child?

Accepted Answer

A child from 5 to 9 years old understands that death is final,believes one's own death can be avoided,associates death with aggression or violence,and believes wishes or unrelated actions can be responsible for death.A child between the ages of 9 to 12 years understands that death is the inevitable end of life.

Question 8

What should the nurse do before approaching a grieving family member?

Accepted Answer

Before approaching a grieving family member, the nurse should assess the level of resolution in order to determine the family member's current emotional state and needs. This will help the nurse to provide appropriate support and interventions. Offering sympathy is important, but not the first step. Giving assurance that the pain will pass or encouraging the family member to return to normal activities may not be appropriate and could even be harmful, as every individual's grieving process is unique.

Question 9

Changes in health care reimbursement measures have resulted in which of the following changes regarding care of the terminally ill?

Accepted Answer

Changes in health care reimbursement measures have resulted in more emphasis on hospice care and palliative care, which aim to provide comfort and support to patients with terminal illnesses. As a result, more patients are choosing to receive end-of-life care at home rather than in a hospital setting. In some cases, patients may also receive hospice or palliative care in a hospital or other facility, but the overall trend is towards more care being provided in a home setting.

Question 10

How does a perceived loss differ from an actual loss?

Accepted Answer

Perceived losses are easily overlooked.

Question 11

A young nurse caring for a dying patient hastens through the care and leaves the room as quickly as possible.What common reaction to the care of the dying is the nurse exhibiting?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is exhibiting withdrawal, which is a common reaction to the care of the dying. It is a way for the nurse to distance themselves emotionally from the situation as a means of self-preservation.

Question 12

Following the death of a day-old infant,the nurse brings the baby to the parents.What is the rationale for the parents' visit with the deceased baby?

Accepted Answer

When possible,the parents should see,touch,and hold the infant to cope better with the reality of the death.

Question 13

How is a durable power of attorney helpful to an incapacitated patient?

Accepted Answer

The durable power of attorney gives an agent the power to make health care decisions.It can be executed by anyone and does not extend beyond health care issues.A living will directs treatment according to the patient's wishes.

Question 14

When a nurse informs a patient's spouse that the patient has died,the spouse states,"You must be mistaken." Which of Kübler-Ross's stages of dying is the spouse demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

The spouse is demonstrating denial, the first stage in Kübler-Ross's stages of dying. In this stage, the individual denies the reality of the situation and may not be willing or able to accept the truth.

Question 15

What is the termination of tube feedings to a dying patient considered?

Accepted Answer

Termination of tube feedings to a dying patient is considered passive euthanasia, as it involves withholding treatment or interventions that are meant to prolong life. Active euthanasia, on the other hand, involves actively causing the death of a patient, such as through administering a lethal injection. Holistic care and terminal care are both important aspects of end-of-life care, but they do not specifically refer to the termination of tube feedings.

Question 16

When the nurse is developing a care plan for a terminally ill patient,what might be a realistic goal?

Accepted Answer

The goal of the care plan for a terminally ill patient is to assist the patient to function optimally.The other options are not realistic.

Question 17

What is the first thing the nurse should do before involving the family in the care of a dying patient?

Accepted Answer

Ascertaining whether the family wants to assist in the patient's daily care will clarify what the family members are comfortable doing.

Question 18

The home health nurse assesses that the goal of grief resolution has been accomplished when the nurse observes that a widow has performed which activities? (Select all that apply. )

Accepted Answer

Environmental adjustment and seeking new relationships are clear evidence of grief resolution.A trip,arranging financial affairs,or finding employment may be a form of denial or activities that may be dictated by the situation and is not necessarily resolution of grief.

Question 19

A dying patient uses the call light frequently to ask the nurse to do simple tasks.The nurse recognizes this as a fear of:

Accepted Answer

The patient's frequent use of the call light for simple tasks suggests a fear of abandonment, which can be a common fear in dying patients. The patient may feel alone and helpless, and depend on the nurse for support and comfort. The nurse should respond to the call light promptly and with empathy, to help alleviate the patient's fears and build trust.

Question 20

The nurse explains to a grieving husband that the process of the resolution of the hurt and the reestablishment of his life is called the __________ process.

Accepted Answer

The nurse is referring to the process of grief, which is the natural response to loss or bereavement. This process involves various stages, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, which ultimately lead to the resolution of the hurt and the reestablishment of one's life.

Quiz 25: Loss, grief, dying, and Death