Question 1

If the nursing assistant is the only member of the staff present when a client dies, the nursing assistant will be required to:

Accepted Answer

If present when a client or resident dies, the nursing assistant must notify the nurse that the person has died and note the time. After the doctor has pronounced the person dead, the nursing assistant may then be required to help the nurse in giving postmortem care, depending on the policy at the facility or agency.

Question 2

What is the role of nursing assistant when providing postmortem care?

Accepted Answer

The nursing assistant is responsible for washing the body and dressing it in a clean gown. Although some jewelry may be removed, facility policy usually dictates that wedding or engagement rings, dentures, and prosthetic eyes remain in place. The funeral director will apply makeup, if requested by the family. The nurse is usually responsible for notifying the family that a person has died.

Question 3

The nursing assistant helps the nurse with postmortem care for two separate clients who died on the hospital unit. What action indicates that the nursing assistant requires further instruction? When the nursing assistant:

Accepted Answer

The nursing assistant requires further intervention when preparing to write the wrong ID on the toe tag. When a unit gets busy and there is more than one death, the health care team needs to make sure to properly identify the body so that the wrong body does not end up at the wrong funeral home. The other choices are steps in the postmortem process and are correct according to the procedure found on page 647, Procedure 28-1, Providing Postmortem Care.

Question 4

A nursing assistant finds that providing postmortem care for deceased residents is very emotional and is becoming very difficult to do effectively. The nursing assistant will first:

Accepted Answer

Providing postmortem care can be emotionally difficult. It is normal to feel sad at the passing of a client or resident. The assistant should allow for and accept these emotions. Talking about feelings with a co-worker, supervisor, clergy member, or counselor can help one work through grief. While it is true that postmortem care is a part of the job, reminding oneself of that is not likely to help the situation. Refusing to perform the task or asking for special treatment is not an acceptable option.

Question 5

When providing postmortem care, the nursing assistant will always:

Accepted Answer

Standard precautions should be taken when providing postmortem care because contact with body fluids is likely. The other options are not necessarily true in all cases. Showing emotions to the family is not necessarily unprofessional.

Question 6

The nursing assistant is caring for a client in the terminal stages of cancer. In order to best meet the needs of the family, the nursing assistant would say:

Accepted Answer

Allow family members to participate in the person's care if they want to. Some family members may ask to help provide physical care for the dying person, whereas others wait to be asked. It is important to give the family the option to help, but not make assumptions about their wishes. The remaining options make assumptions that could be difficult for the family.

Question 7

The nursing assistant is caring for a resident who recently experienced a stroke and is now comatose. Which action best shows that the nursing assistant understands the special needs of a comatose person?

Accepted Answer

Always talk as if the person is able to hear, despite the inability to respond. Encourage family members to talk to the dying person also. Telling the resident that "things will get better" is not appropriate since it is a promise that can't be kept. The other options are appropriate, but not especially directed toward a comatose person.

Quiz 28: Caring for People Who Are Dying