Peds End of Life

3. Which are appropriate statements the nurse should make to parents after the death of their child? (Select all that apply.) a. "We feel so sorry that we couldn't save your child." b. "Your child isn't suffering anymore." c. "I know how you feel." d. "You're feeling all the pain of losing a child." e. "You are still young enough to have another baby."

a. "We feel so sorry that we couldn't save your child." d. "You're feeling all the pain of losing a child." By saying, "We feel so sorry that we couldn't save your child," the nurse is expressing personal feeling of loss or frustration, which is therapeutic. Stating, "You're feeling all the pain of losing a child," focuses on a feeling, which is therapeutic. The statement, "Your child isn't suffering anymore," is a judgmental statement, which is nontherapeutic. "I know how you feel" and "You're still young enough to have another baby" are statements that give artificial consolation and are nontherapeutic.

13. The parents of a child born with disabilities ask the nurse for advice about discipline. The nurse's response should be based on what knowledge concerning discipline? a. Appropriate disciple is essential for the child. b. It may be too difficult to implement appropriate discipline for a special-needs child. c. Discipline is not needed unless the child becomes problematic. d. Discipline is best achieved with punishment for misbehavior.

a. Appropriate disciple is essential for the child. Discipline is essential for the children with disabilities. It provides boundaries within which to test their behavior and teaches them socially acceptable behaviors. It is not too difficult to implement discipline with a special-needs child. The nurse should teach the parents ways to manage the child's behavior before it becomes problematic. Punishment is not effective in managing behavior.

6. A common parental reaction to a child with special needs is parental overprotection. Parental behavior suggestive of this includes which behavior? a. Attempting to avoid frustrating situations. b. Providing consistent, strict discipline. c. Forcing child to help self, even when not capable. d. Encouraging social and educational activities not appropriate to child's level of capability.

a. Attempting to avoid frustrating situations. Parental overprotection is manifested by the parents' fear of letting the child achieve any new skill, avoiding all discipline, and catering to the child's every desire to prevent frustration. The overprotective parents usually do not set limits and or institute discipline, and they usually prefer to remain in the role of total caregiver. They do not allow the child to perform self-care or encourage the child to try new activities.

25. Which is the most appropriate nursing intervention to promote normalization in a school-age child with a chronic illness? a. Give child as much control as possible. b. Ask child's peer to make child feel normal. c. Convince child that nothing is wrong with him or her. d. Explain to parents that family rules for the child do not need to be the same as for healthy siblings.

a. Give child as much control as possible. The school-age child who is ill may be forced into a period of dependency. To foster normalcy, the child should be given as much control as possible. It is unrealistic to expect one individual to make the child feel normal. The child has a chronic illness. It would be unacceptable to convince the child that nothing is wrong. The family rules should be similar for each of the children in a family. Resentment and hostility can arise if different standards are applied to each child.

20. The parents of a child who has just died ask to be left alone so that they can rock their child one more time. In response to their request, what intervention should the nurse implement? a. Grant their request. b. Assess why they feel that this is necessary. c. Discourage this because it will only prolong their grief. d. Kindly explain that they need to say good-bye to their child now and leave.

a. Grant their request. The parents should be allowed to remain with their child after the death. The nurse can remove all of the tubes and equipment and offer the parents the option of preparing the body. This is an important part of the grieving process and should be allowed if the parents desire it. It is important for the nurse to ascertain if the family has any special needs. None of the other options adequately meet the parent's need to grieve.

17. Which is the most descriptive of a school-age child's reaction to death? a. Is very interested in funerals and burials b. Has little understanding of words such as forever c. Imagines the deceased person to be still alive d. Has an idealistic view of the world and criticizes funerals as barbaric

a. Is very interested in funerals and burials The school-age child is very interested in postdeath services and may be inquisitive about what happens to the body. School-age children have an established concept of forever and have a deeper understanding of death in a concrete manner. Toddler may imagine the deceased person to be still alive. Adolescents may respond to death with an idealistic view of the world and criticize funerals as barbaric.

12. The nurse, providing support to parents of a child newly diagnosed with a chronic disability, notices that they keep asking the same questions. How should the nurse respond to best meet their needs? a. Patiently continue to answer questions. b. Kindly refer them to someone else to answer their questions. c. Recognize that some parents cannot understand explanations. d. Suggest that they ask their questions when they are not upset.

a. Patiently continue to answer questions. Diagnosis is one of the anticipated stress points for parents. The parents may not hear or remember all that is said to them. The nurse should continue to provide the kind of information that they desire. This is a particularly stressful time for the parents; the nurse can play a key role in providing necessary information. Parents should be provided with oral and written information. The nurse needs to work with the family to ensure understanding of the information. The parents require information at the time of diagnosis. Other questions will arise as they adjust to the information.

28. A cure is no longer possible for a young child with cancer. The nursing staff recognizes that the goal of treatment must shift from cure to palliation. Which is an important consideration at this time? a. The family is included in the decision to shift the goals of treatment. b. The decision must be made by the health professionals involved in the child's care. c. The family needs to understand that palliative care takes place in the home. d. The decision should not be communicated to the family because it will encourage a sense of hopelessness.

a. The family is included in the decision to shift the goals of treatment. When the child reaches the terminal stage, the nurse and physician should explore the family's wishes. The family should help decide what interventions will occur as they plan for their child's death. None of the other options address the parent's need to be involved effectively in their child's care.

21. The nurse is talking with the parents of a child who died 6 months ago. They sometimes still "hear" the child's voice and have trouble sleeping. They describe feeling "empty" and depressed. The nurse should recognize that: a. these are normal grief responses. b. the pain of the loss is usually less by this time. c. these grief responses are more typical of the early stages of grief. d. this grieving is essential until the pain is gone and the child is gradually forgotten.

a. these are normal grief responses. These are normal grief responses. The process of grief work is lengthy and resolution of grief may take years, with intensification during the early years. The child will never be forgotten by the parents.

5. The nurse comes into the room of a child who was just diagnosed with a chronic disability. The child's parents begin to yell at the nurse about a variety of concerns. What is the nurse's best response? a. "What is really wrong?" b. "Being angry is only natural." c. "Yelling at me will not change things." d. "I will come back when you settle down."

b. "Being angry is only natural." Parental anger after the diagnosis of a child with a chronic disability is a common response. One of the most common targets for parental anger is members of the staff. The nurse should recognize the common response of anger to the diagnosis and allow the family to express their feelings and emotions. "What is really wrong?" "Yelling at me will not change things," and "I will come back when you settle down" are all possible responses, but they are not addressing the parent's need to express their anger effectively.

29. Which statement made by the nurse would indicate a correct understanding of palliative care? a. "Palliative care serves to hasten death and make the process easier for the family." b. "Palliative care provides pain and symptom management for the child." c. "The goal of palliative care is to place the child in a hospice setting at the end of life." d. "The goal of palliative care is to act as the liaison between the family, child, and other health care professionals."

b. "Palliative care provides pain and symptom management for the child." The primary goal of palliative care is to provide pain and symptom management, not to hasten death or place the child in a hospice setting. Palliative care is provided by a multidisciplinary team whose goal it is to provide active total care for patients whose disease is no longer responding to curative treatment.

27. Which best describes how preschoolers react to the death of a loved one? a. The preschooler is too young to have a concept of death. b. A preschooler is likely to feel guilty and responsible for the death. c. Grief is acute but does not last long at this age. d. Grief is usually expressed in the same way in which the adults in the preschooler's life are expressing grief.

b. A preschooler is likely to feel guilty and responsible for the death. Because of egocentricity, the preschooler may feel guilty and responsible for the death. Preschoolers usually have some understanding of the meaning of death. Death is seen as a departure or some kind of sleep and they have no understanding of the permanence of death. None of the other statements accurately describe the usually preschoolers reaction to death.

3. Which behavior is considered an approach behavior in parents of chronically ill children? a. Inability to adjust to a progression of the disease or condition. b. Anticipation of future problems and seeking guidance and answers. c. Looking for new cures without a perspective toward possible benefit. d. Failing to recognize seriousness of child's condition despite physical evidence.

b. Anticipation of future problems and seeking guidance and answers. Approach behaviors are coping mechanisms that result in a family's movement toward adjustment and resolution of the crisis of having a child with a chronic illness or disability. The parents who anticipate future problems and seek guidance and answers are demonstrating approach behaviors. They are demonstrating positive actions in caring for their child. Avoidance behaviors include being unable to adjust to a progression of the disease or condition, looking for new cures without a perspective toward possible benefit, and failing to recognize the seriousness of the child's condition despite physical evidence. These behaviors would suggest that the parents are moving away from adjustment or adaptation in the crisis of a child with chronic illness or disability.

24. Which represents a common best practice in the provision of services to children with chronic or complex conditions? a. Care is focused on the child's chronologic age. b. Children with complex conditions are integrated into regular classrooms. c. Disabled children are less likely to be cared for by their families. d. Children with complex conditions are placed in residential treatment facilities.

b. Children with complex conditions are integrated into regular classrooms. Normalization refers to behaviors and interventions for people with disabilities to integrate into society by living life as people without a disability would. For children, normalization includes attending school and being integrated into regular classrooms. This affords the child the advantages of learning with a wide group of peers. Care is necessarily focused on the child's developmental age. Home care by the family is considered best practice. The nurse can assist families by assessing social support systems, coping strategies, family cohesiveness, and family and community resources.

8. Which intervention will encourage a sense of autonomy in a toddler with disabilities? a. Avoiding separation from family during hospitalization b. Encouraging age appropriate independence in as many areas as possible c. Exposing child to pleasurable experiences as much as possible d. Helping parents learn special care needs of their child

b. Encouraging age appropriate independence in as many areas as possible Encouraging the toddler to be independent encourages a sense of autonomy. The child can be given choices about feeding, dressing, and diversional activities, which will provide a sense of control. Avoiding separation from family during hospitalization and helping parents learn special care needs of their child should be practiced as part of family-centered care. They do not particularly foster autonomy. Exposing the child to pleasurable experiences, especially sensory ones, is a supportive intervention. It does not particularly support autonomy.

22. At the time of a child's death, the nurse tells his mother, "We will miss him so much." What does this statement indicate about the nurse? a. Pretending to be experiencing grief. b. Expressing personal feelings of loss. c. Denying the mother's sense of loss. d. Talking when listening would be better.

b. Expressing personal feelings of loss. The death of a patient is one of the most stressful aspects of a critical care or oncology nurse. Nurses experience reactions similar to those of family members because of their involvement with the child and family during the illness. Nurses often have feelings of personal loss when a patient dies. The nurse is experiencing a normal grief response to the death of a patient. There is no implication that the mother's loss is minimized. The nurse is validating the worth of the child.

30. A nurse is planning palliative care for a child with severe pain. Which should the nurse expect to be prescribed for pain relief? a. Opioids as needed b. Opioids on a regular schedule c. Distraction and relaxation techniques d. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

b. Opioids on a regular schedule Pain medications for children in palliative care should be given on a regular schedule, and extra doses for breakthrough pain should be available to maintain comfort. Opioid drugs such as morphine should be given for severe pain, and the dose should be increased as necessary to maintain optimal pain relief. Techniques such as distraction, relaxation techniques, and guided imagery should be combined with drug therapy to provide the child and family strategies to control pain. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are not sufficient to manage severe pain for children in palliative care.

4. Families progress through various stages of reactions when a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness or disability. After the shock phase, a period of adjustment usually follows that may be characterized by what reaction? a. Anger b. Overprotectiveness c. Social reintegration d. Guilt

b. Overprotectiveness For most families, the adjustment phase is accompanied by several responses that are normally part of the adjustment process. Overprotectiveness, rejection, denial, or gradual acceptance are common reactions. The initial diagnosis of a chronic illness or disability often is often met with intense emotion and characterized by guilt and anger. Social reintegration is the culmination of the adjustment process.

14. An 8 year old will soon be able to return to school after an injury that resulted in several severe, chronic disabilities. What is the most appropriate action by the school nurse to help assure a smooth transition back to school? a. Recommending that the child's parents attend school at first to prevent teasing b. Preparing the child's classmates and teachers for changes they can expect c. Referring the child to a school where the children have chronic disabilities similar to hers d. Discussing with both the child and the parents the fact that classmates will not likely be as accepting as before

b. Preparing the child's classmates and teachers for changes they can expect Attendance at school is an important part of normalization for the child. The school nurse should prepare teachers and classmates about her condition, abilities, and special needs. A visit by the parents can be helpful, but unless the classmates are prepared for the changes, it alone will not prevent teasing. The child's school experience should be normalized as much as possible. Children need the opportunity to interact with healthy peers and engage in activities with groups or clubs composed of similarly affected persons. Children with special needs are encouraged to maintain and reestablish relationships with peers and participate according to their capabilities.

9. The feeling of guilt that the child "caused" the disability or illness is especially critical in which child? a. Toddler b. Preschooler c. School-age child d. Adolescent

b. Preschooler Preschoolers are most likely to be affected by feelings of guilt that they caused the illness/disability or are being punished for wrongdoings. Toddlers are focused on establishing their autonomy. The illness will foster dependency. The school-age child will have limited opportunities for achievement and may not be able to understand limitations. Adolescents are faced with the task of incorporating their disabilities into their changing self-concept.

4. A nurse is caring for a child who is near death. Which physical signs indicate the child is approaching death? (Select all that apply.) a. Body feels warm b. Tactile sensation decreasing c. Speech becomes rapid d. Change in respiratory pattern e. Difficulty swallowing

b. Tactile sensation decreasing d. Change in respiratory pattern e. Difficulty swallowing Physical signs of approaching death include tactile sensation beginning to decrease, a change in respiratory pattern, and difficulty swallowing. Even though there is a sensation of heat, the body feels cool, not warm, and speech becomes slurred, not rapid.

2. Lindsey, age 5 years with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, will be starting kindergarten next month and will be placed in a special education classroom. The parents are tearful when telling the nurse about this and state that they did not realize that their child's disability was so severe. How should the nurse interpret this parental response? a. This is a sign that parents are in denial. b. This is a normal anticipated time of parental stress. c. The parents need to learn more about cerebral palsy. d. The parents are used to having expectations that are too high.

b. This is a normal anticipated time of parental stress. Parenting a child with a chronic illness can be very stressful for parents. There are anticipated times that parental stress increases. One of these identified times is when the child begins school. Nurses can help parents recognize and plan interventions to work through these stressful periods. The parents are not in denial; they are responding to the child's placement in school. The parents are not exhibiting signs of a knowledge deficit or expectations that are too high; this is their first interaction with the school system with this child.

16. At what age do most children have an adult concept of death as being inevitable, universal, and irreversible? a. 4 to 5 years b. 6 to 8 years c. 9 to 11 years d. 12 to 16 years

c. 9 to 11 years By age 9 to 11 years, children have an adult concept of death. They realize that it is inevitable, universal, and irreversible. Preschoolers and young school-age children are too young to have an adult concept of death. Adolescents have a mature understanding of death.

1. What should the nurse identify as major fears in the school-age child who is hospitalized with a chronic illness? (Select all that apply.) a. Altered body image b. Separation from peer group c. Bodily injury d. Mutilation e. Being left alone

c. Bodily injury d. Mutilation e. Being left alone Bodily injury, mutilation, and being left alone are all major fears of the school age. Altered body image and separation from peers are major fears in the adolescent. 2. Which describe avoidance behaviors a parent may exhibit when learning that his or her child has a chronic condition? (Select all that apply.) a. Refuses to agree to treatment b. Shares burden of disorder with others c. Verbalizes possible loss of child d. Withdraws from outside world e. Punishes self because of guilt and shame[ a. Refuses to agree to treatment d. Withdraws from outside world e. Punishes self because of guilt and shame A parent who refuses to agree to treatment, withdraws from the outside world, and punishes self because of guilt and shame is exhibiting avoidance coping behaviors. A parent who shares the burden of disorder with others and verbalizes possible loss of child is exhibiting approach coping behaviors.

1. The nurse case manager is planning a care conference about a young child who has complex health care needs and will soon be discharged home. Whom should the nurse invite to the conference? a. Family and nursing staff b. Social worker, nursing staff, and primary care physician c. Family and key health professionals involved in child's care d. Primary care physician and key health professionals involved in child's care

c. Family and key health professionals involved in child's care A multidisciplinary conference is necessary for coordination of care for children with complex health needs. The family and key health professionals who are involved in the child's care are included. The nursing staff can address the nursing care needs of the child with the family, but other involved disciplines must be included. The family must be included in the discharge conferences, which allow them to determine what education they will require and the resources needed at home. A member of the nursing staff must be included to review the nursing needs of the child.

19. A school-age child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The parents want to protect their child from knowing the seriousness of the illness. What information should the nurse provide to these parents? a. This will help the child cope effectively by denial. b. This attitude is helpful to give parents time to cope. c. Terminally ill children know when they are seriously ill. d. Terminally ill children usually choose not to discuss the seriousness of their illness.

c. Terminally ill children know when they are seriously ill. The child needs honest and accurate information about the illness, treatments, and prognosis. Children, even at a young age, realize that something is seriously wrong and that it involves them. The nurse should help parents understand the importance of honesty. The child will know that something is wrong because of the increased attention of health professionals. This would interfere with denial as a form of coping. Parents may need professional support and guidance from a nurse or social worker in this process. Children will usually tell others how much information they want about their condition.

10. The father, of a 9 year old diagnosed with several physical disabilities, explains to the nurse that his child concentrates on what he/she can do rather than cannot do and is as independent as possible. How should the nurse's best interpret this statement? a. The father is experiencing denial. b. The father is expressing his own views. c. The child is using an adaptive coping style. d. The child is using a maladaptive coping style.

c. The child is using an adaptive coping style. The father is describing a well-adapted child who has learned to accept physical limitations. These children function well at home, at school, and with peers. They have an understanding of their disorder that allows them to accept their limitations, assume responsibility for care, and assist in treatment and rehabilitation. The father is not denying the child's limitations or expressing his own views. This is descriptive of an adaptive coping style.

15. A 16 year old diagnosed with a chronic illness has recently become rebellious and is taking risks such as missing doses of his medication. What information should the nurse provide the parents to help explain their child's behavior? a. The child at this age requires more discipline. b. At this age, children need more socialization with peers. c. This behavior is seen as a normal part of adolescence. d. This is how the child is asking for more parental involvement in managing stress.

c. This behavior is seen as a normal part of adolescence. Risk taking, rebelliousness, and lack of cooperation are normal parts of adolescence. If the parents increase the amount of discipline, he will most likely be more rebellious. Socialization with peers should be encouraged as a part of adolescence. It is a normal part of adolescence during which the young adult is establishing independence.

23. Which is the most appropriate response to a school-age child who asks if she can talk to her dying sister? a. "You need to speak loudly so she can hear you." b. "Holding her hand would be better because at this point she can't hear you." c. "Although she can't hear you, she can feel your presence so sit close to her." d. "Even though she will probably not answer you, she can still hear what you say to her."

d. "Even though she will probably not answer you, she can still hear what you say to her." Hearing is the last sense to cease before death. Talking to the dying child is important both for the child and for the family. There is no evidence that the dying process decreases hearing acuity; therefore, the sister should speak at a normal volume. The sibling should be encouraged to speak to the child, as well as sit close to the bed and hold the child's hand.

18. At what developmental period do children have the most difficulty coping with death, particularly if it is their own? a. Toddlerhood b. Preschool c. School-age d. Adolescence

d. Adolescence Because of their mature understanding of death, remnants of guilt and shame, and issues with deviations from normal, adolescents have the most difficulty coping with death. Toddlers and preschoolers are too young to have difficulty coping with their own death. They will fear separation from parents. School-age children will fear the unknown, such as the consequences of the illness and the threat to their sense of security.

26. Which term best describes a multidisciplinary approach to the management of a terminal illness that focuses on symptom control and support? a. Dying care b. Curative care c. Restorative care d. Palliative care

d. Palliative care This is one of the definitions of palliative care. The goal of palliative care is the achievement of the highest possible quality of life for patients and their families. Curative care would infer providing a cure for the disease or disorder while restorative care involves measures to regain past abilities. Dying care generally refers to the care of an individual in the final stage of life.

11. The nurse, talking with the tearful parent of a child newly diagnosed with a chronic illness, asks, "Who do you talk with when something is worrying you?" What is the purpose of this statement? a. Inappropriate, because parent is so upset. b. A diversion of the present crisis to similar situations with which parent has dealt. c. An intervention to find someone to help parent. d. Part of assessing parent's available support system.

d. Part of assessing parent's available support system This question will provide information about the marital relationship (does the parent speak to the spouse?), alternate support systems, and ability to communicate. These are very important data for the nurse to obtain and an appropriate part of an accurate assessment. By assessing these areas, the nurse can facilitate the identification and use of community resources as needed. The nurse is obtaining information to help support the parent through the diagnosis. The parent is not in need of additional parenting help at this time.

7. Most parents of children with special needs tend to experience chronic sorrow. How may chronic sorrow be characterized? a. Lack of acceptance of the child's limitation. b. Lack of available support to prevent sorrow. c. Periods of intensified sorrow when experiencing anger and guilt. d. Periods of intensified sorrow and loss that occur in waves over time.

d. Periods of intensified sorrow and loss that occur in waves over time. Chronic sorrow is manifested by feelings of sorrow and loss that recur in waves over time. The sorrow is in response to the recognition of the child's limitations. The family should be assessed in an ongoing manner to provide appropriate support as the needs of the family change. The sorrow is not preventable. The chronic sorrow occurs during the reintegration and acknowledgment stage.