Chapter 36 - Loss & Grief

A nurse encounters a family who experienced the death of their adult child last year. The parents are talking about the upcoming anniversary of their child's death. The nurse spends time with them discussing their child's life and death. Which nursing principle does the nurse's action best demonstrate? a. Facilitation of normal mourning b. Pain-management technique c. Grief evaluation d. Palliative care

ANS: A

A nurse is caring for a dying patient. When is the best time for the nurse to discuss end-of-life care? a. During assessment b. During planning c. During implementation d. During evaluation

ANS: A

A nurse is providing postmortem care. Which action will the nurse take? a. Leave dentures in the mouth. b. Lower the head of the bed. c. Cover the body with a sterile sheet. d. Remove all tubes for an autopsy.

ANS: A

A patient has had two family members die during the past 2 days. Which coping strategy is most appropriate for the nurse to suggest to the patient? a. Writing in a journal b. Drinking alcohol to go to sleep c. Exercising vigorously rather than sleeping d. Avoiding talking with friends and family members

ANS: A

The mother of a child who died recently keeps the child's room intact. Family members are encouraging her to redecorate and move forward in life. Which type of grief will the home health nurse recognize the mother is experiencing? a. Normal b. End-of-life c. Abnormal d. Complicated

ANS: A

A nursing assistive personnel (NAP) is caring for a dying patient. Which action by the NAP will cause the nurse to intervene? a. Elevating head of bed b. Making the patient eat c. Giving mouth care every 2 to 4 hours d. Keeping skin clean, dry, and moisturized

ANS: B

A previously toilet trained toddler has started wetting again. A nurse is gathering a health history from the grandparent. Which health history finding will the nurse most likely consider as the cause of the wetting? a. Dietary changes b. Recent parental death c. Playmate moved away d. Sibling was sick 2 days

ANS: B

A veteran is hospitalized after surgical amputation of both lower extremities owing to injuries sustained during military service. Which type of loss will the nurse focus the plan of care on for this patient? a. Perceived loss b. Situational loss c. Maturational loss d. Uncomplicated loss

ANS: B

An Orthodox Jewish rabbi has been pronounced dead. The nursing assistive personnel respectfully ask family members to leave the room and go home as postmortem care is provided. Which statement from the supervising nurse is best? a. "I should have called a male colleague to handle the body." b. "Family members stay with the body until burial the next day." c. "I wish they would go home because we have work to do here." d. "Family will quietly leave after praying and touching the rabbi's head."

ANS: B

During a follow-up visit, a female patient is describing new onset of marital discord with her terminally ill spouse to the hospice nurse. Which Kübler-Ross stage of dying is the patient experiencing? a. Denial b. Anger c. Bargaining d. Depression

ANS: B

A nurse is documenting end-of-life care. Which information will the nurse include in the patient's electronic medical record? (Select all that apply.) a. Reason for the death b. Time and date of death c. How ethically the family grieved d. Location of body identification tags e. Time of body transfer and destination

ANS: B, D, E

"I know it seems strange, but I feel guilty being pregnant after the death of my son last year," said a woman during her routine obstetrical examination. The nurse spends extra time with this woman, helping her realize bonding with this unborn child will not mean she is replacing the one who died. Which nursing technique does this demonstrate? a. Providing curative therapy b. Promoting spirituality c. Facilitating mourning d. Eradicating grief

ANS: C

A female nurse is called into the supervisor's office regarding her deteriorating work performance since the loss of her spouse 2 years ago. The woman begins sobbing and says that she is "falling apart" at home as well. Which type of grief is the female nurse experiencing? a. Normal grief b. Perceived grief c. Complicated grief d. Disenfranchised grief

ANS: C

A severely depressed patient cannot state any positive attributes to life. The nurse patiently sits with this patient and assists the patient to identify several activities the patient is actually looking forward to in life. Which spiritual concept is the nurse trying to promote? a. Time management b. Reminiscence c. Hope d. Faith

ANS: C

Family members gather in the emergency department after learning that a family member was involved in a motor vehicle accident. After learning of the family member's unexpected death, the surviving family members begin to cry and scream in despair. Which phase does the nurse determine the family is in according to the Attachment Theory? a. Numbing b. Reorganization c. Yearning and searching d. Disorganization and despair

ANS: C

A cancer patient asks the nurse what the criteria are for hospice care. Which information should the nurse share with the patient? a. It is for those needing assistance with pain management. b. It is for those having a terminal illness, such as cancer. c. It is for those with completion of an advance directive. d. It is for those expected to live less than 6 months.

ANS: D

A nurse is caring for a dying patient. One of the nurse's goals is to promote dignity and validation of the dying person's life. Which action will the nurse take to best achieve this goal? a. Take pictures of visitors. b. Provide quiet visiting time. c. Call the organ donation coordinator. d. Listen to family stories about the person.

ANS: D

A nurse is caring for a patient in the last stages of dying. Which finding indicates the nurse needs to prepare the family for death? a. Redness of skin b. Clear-colored urine c. Tense muscles tone d. Cheyne-Stokes breathing

ANS: D

A nurse lets the transplant coordinator make a request for organ and tissue donation from the patient's family. What is the primary rationale for the nurse's action? a. The nurse is not as knowledgeable as the coordinator. b. The nurse is uncomfortable asking the family. c. The nurse does not want to upset the family. d. The nurse is following a federal law.

ANS: D

A palliative team is caring for a dying patient in severe pain. Which action is the priority? a. Provide postmortem care for the patient. b. Support the patient's nurse in grieving. c. Teach the patient the stages of grief. d. Enhance the patient's quality of life.

ANS: D

A patient cancels a scheduled appointment because the patient will be attending a Shivah for a family member. Which response by the nurse is best? a. "When families come together for end-of-life decisions, it provides connections." b. "We will reschedule so the appointment does not fall on the Sabbath." c. "Missionary outreach is so important for spiritual comfort." d. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

ANS: D

A patient's father died a week ago. Both the patient and the patient's spouse talk about the death. The patient's spouse is experiencing headaches and fatigue. The patient is having trouble sleeping, has no appetite, and gets choked up most of the time. How should the nurse interpret these findings as the basis for a follow-up assessment? a. The patient is dying and the spouse is angry. b. The patient is ill and the spouse is malingering. c. Both the patient and the spouse are likely in denial. d. Both the patient and the spouse are likely grieving.

ANS: D

A terminally ill patient is experiencing constipation secondary to pain medication. Which is the best method for the nurse to improve the patient's constipation problem? a. Contact the health care provider to discontinue pain medication. b. Administer enemas twice daily for 7 days. c. Massage the patient's abdomen. d. Use a laxative.

ANS: D

In preparation for the eventual death of a female hospice patient of the Muslim faith, the nurse organizes a meeting of all hospice caregivers. A plan of care to be followed when this patient diesis prepared. Which information will be included in the plan? a. Prepare the body for autopsy. b. Prepare the body for cremation. c. Allow male Muslims to care for the body after death has occurred. d. Allow female Muslims to care for the body after death has occurred.

ANS: D