Question 1

What important need should a nurse caring for a dying patient understand?

Accepted Answer

A)  Frequent, thorough physical assessments 
B)  Not imposing repeated and unnecessary assessments 
C)  Current, updated health history from the patient 
D)  Limiting the amount of visitors allowed 
A)  Frequent, thorough physical assessments 
B)  Not imposing repeated and unnecessary assessments 
C)  Current, updated health history from the patient 
D)  Limiting the amount of visitors allowed B

Question 2

What should be the primary nursing goal when caring for a patient who is experiencing dysfunctional grieving?

Accepted Answer

A)  Enhancement of self-esteem 
B)  Resolution of grief 
C)  Provision of safety measures 
D)  Prevention of complications 
A)  Enhancement of self-esteem 
B)  Resolution of grief 
C)  Provision of safety measures 
D)  Prevention of complications B

Question 3

In caring for a dying patient who is grieving, a nurse bases patient care on the theory that grief is helpful and assists the person in accepting the reality of death.What is this type of grief is called?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dysfunctional 
B)  Unresolved 
C)  Uncomplicated 
D)  Maladaptive 
A)  Dysfunctional 
B)  Unresolved 
C)  Uncomplicated 
D)  Maladaptive C

Question 4

A nurse is assessing a patient who is terminally ill for clinical signs of impending death.What should the nurse expect when assessing the patient's respirations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Deep, clear breath sounds 
B)  Noisy, wet-sounding respirations 
C)  Even, unlabored respirations 
D)  Shallow, clear breath sounds 
A)  Deep, clear breath sounds 
B)  Noisy, wet-sounding respirations 
C)  Even, unlabored respirations 
D)  Shallow, clear breath sounds

Question 5

A patient recently diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer tells a nurse, "I am looking forward to seeing my daughter graduate from college in 2 years." What stage of grief should the nurse recognize this as according to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross?

Accepted Answer

A)  Denial 
B)  Anger 
C)  Bargaining 
D)  Depression 
A)  Denial 
B)  Anger 
C)  Bargaining 
D)  Depression

Question 6

How should a nurse position the body after the death of a patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prone 
B)  Supine 
C)  On the side 
D)  In Fowler position 
A)  Prone 
B)  Supine 
C)  On the side 
D)  In Fowler position

Question 7

What is one of the most important interventions for a nurse to implement when caring for a patient who is terminally ill?

Accepted Answer

A)  Touching and listening to the patient 
B)  Encouraging the patient to express any regrets 
C)  Assessing for signs and symptoms of impending death 
D)  Talking to the patient about how other patients have handled the dying process 
A)  Touching and listening to the patient 
B)  Encouraging the patient to express any regrets 
C)  Assessing for signs and symptoms of impending death 
D)  Talking to the patient about how other patients have handled the dying process

Question 8

A patient who is terminally ill has asked a nurse if he can request that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)not be used in the event he has respiratory or cardiac arrest.What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  "The physician is the only one that can make that decision." 
B)  "I will be glad to get you some information on advance directives, which are written statements of a person's wishes regarding medical care." 
C)  "Yes, you can make that decision; I will tell all the nurses." 
D)  "Your family will have to make the decision." 
A)  "The physician is the only one that can make that decision." 
B)  "I will be glad to get you some information on advance directives, which are written statements of a person's wishes regarding medical care." 
C)  "Yes, you can make that decision; I will tell all the nurses." 
D)  "Your family will have to make the decision."

Question 9

A patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness is crying when a nurse enters the room.The patient states, "I promised God that I would be a better person if He will just let me get over this disease." What stage of grieving according to Kübler-Ross should the nurse recognize this as?

Accepted Answer

A)  Denial 
B)  Anger 
C)  Bargaining 
D)  Depression 
A)  Denial 
B)  Anger 
C)  Bargaining 
D)  Depression

Question 10

When the family of a dying person does not discuss the issue of death openly and avoids the subject of dying altogether, the nurse recognizes this behavior representative of the ______ stage described by Straus and Glaser.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When the family of a dying person...

Question 11

What is believed to be the last sense to remain intact during the death process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Touch 
B)  Sight 
C)  Smell 
D)  Hearing 
A)  Touch 
B)  Sight 
C)  Smell 
D)  Hearing

Question 12

When planning the care of a patient who is terminally ill, a nurse should include the prevention of pain and relief from discomfort.What should the nurse implement when administering pain medication?

Accepted Answer

A)  Narcotics have the potential for addiction. 
B)  Pain medication must be given before the pain becomes unbearable. 
C)  Pain medication should be given no more often than every 6 hours. 
D)  Narcotics must be given as needed only. 
A)  Narcotics have the potential for addiction. 
B)  Pain medication must be given before the pain becomes unbearable. 
C)  Pain medication should be given no more often than every 6 hours. 
D)  Narcotics must be given as needed only.

Question 13

What right does the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 require institutions to provide written information to patients concerning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Donation of organs 
B)  Accepting or refusing treatment 
C)  Autopsy 
D)  Physician-assisted suicide 
A)  Donation of organs 
B)  Accepting or refusing treatment 
C)  Autopsy 
D)  Physician-assisted suicide

Question 14

The family of a patient who is showing signs of impending death tells a nurse that they would like for any organs that can be used to be donated.What action should the nurse implement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wait until the patient has died before discussing organ donation with the family. 
B)  Tell the family that the patient has not signed a consent, so the organs cannot be donated. 
C)  Check the patient's record to see whether the physician has written an order for the patient to have organs donated. 
D)  Notify the physician of the family's wishes. 
A)  Wait until the patient has died before discussing organ donation with the family. 
B)  Tell the family that the patient has not signed a consent, so the organs cannot be donated. 
C)  Check the patient's record to see whether the physician has written an order for the patient to have organs donated. 
D)  Notify the physician of the family's wishes.

Question 15

A nurse is on duty in the emergency department when a patient is brought in who has died almost immediately after admission.The family states that the patient has had no history of medical problems and that no apparent reason for death is known.What should occur in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The police must be notified. 
B)  The family may choose to have an autopsy performed. 
C)  An autopsy is required by law, and the coroner or medical examiner must be notified. 
D)  The body must be held at the hospital for 24 hours. 
A)  The police must be notified. 
B)  The family may choose to have an autopsy performed. 
C)  An autopsy is required by law, and the coroner or medical examiner must be notified. 
D)  The body must be held at the hospital for 24 hours.

Question 16

While a nurse bathes a patient, he says, "Why are you giving me a bath? I'm going to die no matter what." What should be the nurse's most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

A)  "A bath will make you feel better." 
B)  "Would you like to talk about how you are feeling?" 
C)  "Don't you want your bath today?" 
D)  "I can give you some medicine to make you feel better." 
A)  "A bath will make you feel better." 
B)  "Would you like to talk about how you are feeling?" 
C)  "Don't you want your bath today?" 
D)  "I can give you some medicine to make you feel better."

Question 17

What preferences does the document "Five Wishes" help a dying person communicate to the family? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Who should make decisions 
B)  What medical treatment will be acceptable 
C)  How to distribute assets such as real estate 
D)  Degree of comfort desired 
E)  How they wish to be treated 
A)  Who should make decisions 
B)  What medical treatment will be acceptable 
C)  How to distribute assets such as real estate 
D)  Degree of comfort desired 
E)  How they wish to be treated

Question 18

A nurse counsels the family of a 6-year-old child experiencing the death of his grandfather not to shield the child from the grandfather's death.What feelings might this child develop if protected from the pain of bereavement? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Fear 
B)  Anger 
C)  Abandonment 
D)  Blame 
E)  Inability to express feelings 
A)  Fear 
B)  Anger 
C)  Abandonment 
D)  Blame 
E)  Inability to express feelings

Question 19

A patient's family asks a nurse what to expect when the patient dies.What is the most accurate response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  His heart will stop, and then later he will quit breathing. 
B)  His respirations will cease first, and then the heart stops beating within a few minutes. 
C)  His heartbeat and breathing will just stop suddenly without warning. 
D)  He will quit breathing first, and then it could be several hours before his heart stops. 
A)  His heart will stop, and then later he will quit breathing. 
B)  His respirations will cease first, and then the heart stops beating within a few minutes. 
C)  His heartbeat and breathing will just stop suddenly without warning. 
D)  He will quit breathing first, and then it could be several hours before his heart stops.

Question 20

A patient who is terminally ill asks a nurse what is meant by a medical power of attorney.What is the nurse's best explanation of this written document?

Accepted Answer

A)  "It allows another person to manage your financial affairs." 
B)  "It allows the physician to make any medical decisions that need to be made for you." 
C)  "It says you have given up all rights to make medical decisions for yourself." 
D)  "It allows you to select someone to make health care decisions for you only if you are unable to do so for yourself." 
A)  "It allows another person to manage your financial affairs." 
B)  "It allows the physician to make any medical decisions that need to be made for you." 
C)  "It says you have given up all rights to make medical decisions for yourself." 
D)  "It allows you to select someone to make health care decisions for you only if you are unable to do so for yourself."

Exam 19: Palliative and Hospice Care

What important need should a nurse caring for a dying patient understand?

What should be the primary nursing goal when caring for a patient who is experiencing dysfunctional grieving?

In caring for a dying patient who is grieving, a nurse bases patient care on the theory that grief is helpful and assists the person in accepting the reality of death.What is this type of grief is called?

A nurse is assessing a patient who is terminally ill for clinical signs of impending death.What should the nurse expect when assessing the patient's respirations?

A patient recently diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer tells a nurse, "I am looking forward to seeing my daughter graduate from college in 2 years." What stage of grief should the nurse recognize this as according to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross?

How should a nurse position the body after the death of a patient?

What is one of the most important interventions for a nurse to implement when caring for a patient who is terminally ill?

A patient who is terminally ill has asked a nurse if he can request that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)not be used in the event he has respiratory or cardiac arrest.What is the best response by the nurse?

A patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness is crying when a nurse enters the room.The patient states, "I promised God that I would be a better person if He will just let me get over this disease." What stage of grieving according to Kübler-Ross should the nurse recognize this as?

When the family of a dying person does not discuss the issue of death openly and avoids the subject of dying altogether, the nurse recognizes this behavior representative of the ______ stage described by Straus and Glaser.

What is believed to be the last sense to remain intact during the death process?

When planning the care of a patient who is terminally ill, a nurse should include the prevention of pain and relief from discomfort.What should the nurse implement when administering pain medication?

What right does the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 require institutions to provide written information to patients concerning?

The family of a patient who is showing signs of impending death tells a nurse that they would like for any organs that can be used to be donated.What action should the nurse implement?

A nurse is on duty in the emergency department when a patient is brought in who has died almost immediately after admission.The family states that the patient has had no history of medical problems and that no apparent reason for death is known.What should occur in this situation?

While a nurse bathes a patient, he says, "Why are you giving me a bath? I'm going to die no matter what." What should be the nurse's most appropriate response?

What preferences does the document "Five Wishes" help a dying person communicate to the family? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse counsels the family of a 6-year-old child experiencing the death of his grandfather not to shield the child from the grandfather's death.What feelings might this child develop if protected from the pain of bereavement? (Select all that apply.)

A patient's family asks a nurse what to expect when the patient dies.What is the most accurate response by the nurse?

A patient who is terminally ill asks a nurse what is meant by a medical power of attorney.What is the nurse's best explanation of this written document?

Aspects of Medical-Surgical Nursing

Medical-Surgical Practice Settings

Medical-Surgical Patients: Individuals, Families, and Communities

Health, Illness, Stress, and Coping

Immunity, Inflammation, and Infection

Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acidbase Imbalance

The Patient With Cancer

Pain

Shock

The Older Adult Patient

Falls

Immobility

Delirium and Dementia

Incontinence

Nutrition

Intravenous Therapy

Surgery

The Patient With an Ostomy

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Neurologic System Introduction

Neurologic Disorders

Cerebrovascular Accident

Spinal Cord Injury

Respiratory System Introduction

Upper Respiratory Disorders

Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Disorders

Chronic Lower Respiratory Tract Disorders

Hematologic System Introduction

Hematologic Disorders

Immunologic System Introduction

Immunologic Disorders

Cardiovascular System Introduction

Cardiac Disorders

Vascular Disorders

Hypertension

Digestive System Introduction

Upper Digestive Tract Disorders

Lower Digestive Tract Disorders

Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreatic Disorders

Urologic System Introduction

Urologic Disorders

Musculoskeletal System Introduction

Connective Tissue Disorders

Fractures

Amputations

Endocrine System Introduction

Pituitary and Adrenal Disorders

Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders

Diabetes and Hypoglycemia

Female Reproductive System Introduction

Female Reproductive Disorders

Male Reproductive System Introduction

Male Reproductive Disorders

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Integumentary System Introduction

Skin Disorders

Special Senses Introduction

Eye and Vision Disorders

Ear and Hearing Disorders