Question 1

An older person grieving the loss of her spouse says that she doesn't want to live anymore. What should this statement indicate to the nurse?
A) The patient is bargaining.
B) The patient may attempt suicide.
C) The patient is accepting the spouse's death.
D) The patient is denying that the spouse has died.

Accepted Answer

This statement can indicate a risk of suicide, especially in the context of significant grief, and should be taken seriously. It suggests that the person may be experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation as a response to their loss.

Question 2

An older patient who just lost her husband of 60 years is seen yelling at his picture, at the pictures of their children and grandchildren, and at the Bible in her hand. What should the nurse do?
A) Call her family members.
B) Call the physician for a restraint order.
C) Stay with her and allow her to be angry at the situation.
D) Check the medication log to see if she can have something for agitation.

Accepted Answer

Staying with the patient and allowing her to express her anger provides emotional support and acknowledges her right to feel and express her emotions during a difficult time. It's a compassionate approach that respects the patient's need to grieve.

Question 3

The family of a dying patient has been sitting at his bedside for hours, watching over the decreasing respirations. No one is speaking. What should the nurse say to the patient's son?
A) Encourage him to try to feed his father.
B) Encourage him to count the respirations to pass the time.
C) Encourage him to go home because this might be a long process.
D) Encourage him to talk to the patient because hearing is the last sense to go.

Accepted Answer

Encouraging the son to talk to the patient is beneficial because hearing is often the last sense to remain as a person nears death. This can provide comfort to both the patient and the family members.

Question 4

An older patient tells the nurse that he does not want to create a living will because he does not want to die. How should the nurse respond to this patient?
A) "A living will is not a death sentence."
B) "That's probably a good idea. Don't tempt fate."
C) "I know what you mean. I don't have one either."
D) "Having a living will makes sure that you receive the care that you want when death approaches."

Accepted Answer

The answer of An older patient tells the nurse that...

Question 5

The nurse is helping a patient think about things to include in a living will. What should the nurse suggest to the patient? Select all that apply.
A) Feeding tube
B) Breathing tube
C) Food and fluids
D) Pacemaker insertion
E) Mechanical ventilation

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is helping a patient think...

Question 6

While providing morning care to a terminally ill patient the nurse observes the nursing assistant laughing with the patient. What should the nurse do?
A) Explain to the assistant that death is not a laughing matter.
B) Suggest that laughter be limited because others are trying to rest.
C) Realize that the laughter is helping the patient soothe the eventual outcome.
D) Assign the assistant to other non-patient-related tasks because of inappropriate behavior.

Accepted Answer

Laughter can be a therapeutic tool that helps patients cope with their situation. It can provide emotional relief, strengthen human connections, and improve the patient's overall well-being, even in the context of terminal illness.

Question 7

The spouse of a recently deceased older patient says that he does not really remember the funeral. Which stage of the grieving process is the spouse describing?
A) Shock
B) Denial
C) Despair
D) Depression

Accepted Answer

The answer of The spouse of a recently deceased older...

Question 8

During a home visit a terminally ill patient tells the nurse about his years in the Army and how he should have gone to "cooking and baking school" instead of becoming a military policeman. What should the nurse do during this story that indicates listening?
A) Say nothing.
B) Interrupt the patient to measure vital signs.
C) Remind the patient that time is limited for the visit.
D) Ask if the patient regrets not learning how to cook and bake.

Accepted Answer

Asking the patient if they regret not learning how to cook and bake demonstrates active listening by the nurse. It shows engagement with the patient's story and encourages further communication about the patient's feelings and experiences.

Question 9

The spouse of a terminally ill patient asks why antibiotics are being prescribed for an infection when the patient is going to die anyway. How should the nurse respond?
A) "The infection could cause discomfort."
B) "The antibiotics will add days to the patient's life."
C) "Permitting the patient to die is a form of assisted suicide."
D) "I'll ask the physician why the medication was prescribed."

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics can be used in terminally ill patients to manage symptoms and prevent discomfort from infections, even when the primary goal is not to prolong life. This approach aligns with palliative care principles, focusing on the quality of life and symptom management.

Question 10

The nurse desires to become a member of a hospice team. What should the nurse expect to do when providing hospice care?
A) Stay with the patient around-the-clock.
B) Encourage the patient to maintain independence.
C) Instruct the patient to stop eating food and fluids.
D) Provide support and education to family members.

Accepted Answer

Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to patients and their families during the end of life. Nurses on hospice teams provide support and education to family members, helping them to understand the patient's condition and to cope with the emotional and practical challenges of caring for a dying loved one.

Question 11

An older patient who lost her spouse a year ago is seen crying quietly in church during the singing of one hymn. What should this patient's behavior indicate?
A) The patient is unable to complete grieving.
B) The patient is denying that the death occurred.
C) The patient is in the depression phase of grieving.
D) The patient is in the acceptance phase of grieving.

Accepted Answer

The patient's behavior of crying quietly during a hymn suggests she is experiencing a normal emotional response to a memory or reminder of her spouse, which is consistent with the acceptance phase of grieving. This phase involves coming to terms with the loss while still experiencing moments of sadness.

Question 12

The nurse notes that a terminally ill patient has cold extremities despite being saturated with sweat. What should the nurse do?
A) Place the patient on a cooling blanket.
B) Place a fan in the room, angled to cool the patient's torso.
C) Change the gown and cover the arms and legs with a blanket.
D) Increase the room temperature and remove blankets from the patient.

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms suggest they are experiencing cold due to sweat evaporation, not because the environment is too cold. Changing the gown to something dry and covering the arms and legs with a blanket will help warm the patient by reducing further heat loss through evaporation and conduction.

Question 13

An older patient has a living will that clearly states no intubation, no IV hydration, and no feeding tube. As the end of life nears, the patient's daughter requests a feeding tube for the patient. What should the facility do?
A) Go to court to figure out what action to take.
B) Ask the patient's physician to make the decision.
C) Go along with the daughter and insert a feeding tube.
D) Refuse because the patient has clearly stated wishes in a legal document.

Accepted Answer

The facility should honor the patient's wishes as outlined in the living will, a legal document that specifies the patient's preferences for end-of-life care, including the refusal of certain treatments like intubation, IV hydration, and feeding tubes.

Question 14

A dying patient tells the nurse that he does not want any more renal dialysis treatments and just wants to be permitted to die. What should the nurse do with medications prescribed to control the patient's edema?
A) Mark them as refused.
B) Provide them to the patient.
C) Throw the medications in the trash.
D) Place the medications in another patient's medication drawer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A dying patient tells the nurse that...

Quiz 10: End-Of-Life Issues

An older person grieving the loss of her spouse says that she doesn't want to live anymore. What should this statement indicate to the nurse?

An older patient who just lost her husband of 60 years is seen yelling at his picture, at the pictures of their children and grandchildren, and at the Bible in her hand. What should the nurse do?

The family of a dying patient has been sitting at his bedside for hours, watching over the decreasing respirations. No one is speaking. What should the nurse say to the patient's son?

An older patient tells the nurse that he does not want to create a living will because he does not want to die. How should the nurse respond to this patient?

The nurse is helping a patient think about things to include in a living will. What should the nurse suggest to the patient? Select all that apply.

While providing morning care to a terminally ill patient the nurse observes the nursing assistant laughing with the patient. What should the nurse do?

The spouse of a recently deceased older patient says that he does not really remember the funeral. Which stage of the grieving process is the spouse describing?

During a home visit a terminally ill patient tells the nurse about his years in the Army and how he should have gone to "cooking and baking school" instead of becoming a military policeman. What should the nurse do during this story that indicates listening?

The spouse of a terminally ill patient asks why antibiotics are being prescribed for an infection when the patient is going to die anyway. How should the nurse respond?

The nurse desires to become a member of a hospice team. What should the nurse expect to do when providing hospice care?

An older patient who lost her spouse a year ago is seen crying quietly in church during the singing of one hymn. What should this patient's behavior indicate?

The nurse notes that a terminally ill patient has cold extremities despite being saturated with sweat. What should the nurse do?

An older patient has a living will that clearly states no intubation, no IV hydration, and no feeding tube. As the end of life nears, the patient's daughter requests a feeding tube for the patient. What should the facility do?

A dying patient tells the nurse that he does not want any more renal dialysis treatments and just wants to be permitted to die. What should the nurse do with medications prescribed to control the patient's edema?