Exam 25: Care for the Dying and Those Who Grieve

A patient's fiancé died in an automobile accident several days ago. The patient reports crying and experiencing feelings of guilt and anger. This behavior is characteristic of which aspect of grief?

A nurse manager notices that a staff member spends minimal time with a patient diagnosed with AIDS who is terminally ill. The patient says, "I'm having intense emotional reactions to this illness. Sometimes I feel angry, but other times I feel afraid or abandoned." The nurse manager can correctly hypothesize that the most likely reason for the staff member's avoidance is:

A patient diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer says, "I'm dying, but I'm still living. I want to be in control as long as I can." Which reply shows the nurse was actively listening?

A nurse cared for a terminally ill patient for over a month and always looked forward to spending time with the patient. When the patient died, the nurse experienced sadness and felt mildly depressed. Eventually, the nurse explains these feelings to a mentor. The mentor should counsel the nurse:

After her husband died of heart failure, a wife approaches the nurse who cared for her husband. In the hospital hallway the wife shouts angrily, "He'd still be alive if you'd given him your undivided attention!" Which response should the nurse implement?

A family of a terminally ill patient asks the nurse, "What can we say when our family member mentions death is coming soon?" Which response could the nurse suggest?

Psychotherapy for individuals at risk for complicated grief focuses on which goals? (Select all that apply.)

As death approaches, a patient diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) says, "I don't want to see a lot of visitors anymore. Just my parents and my sibling can come in for a while each day." What action should the nurse take?

A person whose spouse died two years earlier tells friends, "I think I'm ready to start going out socially, maybe even take someone to dinner." This comment best demonstrates that the individual is:

An individual was killed during a store robbery 2 weeks ago. The widowed spouse, who was diagnosed 6 years ago with schizoaffective disorder, cries spontaneously when talking about the death. Which is the nurse's most therapeutic comment?

An adult who was widowed 18 months ago says, "I can now remember good times we shared without getting upset. Sometimes I even think about the disappointments. I've become accustomed to sleeping in our bed alone." The work of mourning:

A terminally ill patient says, "I know I'm not going to get well, but still." and the patient's voice trails off. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?

Which statements by a patient who is terminally ill give the nurse information relevant to spiritual assessment? (Select all that apply.)

The spouse of a patient in hospice care angrily tells the nurse, "The care provided by the aide and other family members is inadequate, so I must do everything myself. Can't anyone do things right?" The palliative care nurse should:

A patient newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer says, "My father also died of pancreatic cancer. I took care of him during his illness. I can't go through that." Select the highest priority nursing diagnosis.

A grieving patient tells a nurse, "It's been eight months since my spouse died. I thought I would feel better by now, but lately I feel worse. I have no energy. I am lonely, but I don't want to be around people. What should I do?" What is the nurse's best counsel?

After the death of a spouse, an adult repeatedly says, "I should have made him go to the doctor when he said he didn't feel well." This individual is experiencing:

A recently widowed patient tells the health care provider, "I have so much epigastric discomfort. I wonder if I have an ulcer." Diagnostic tests are negative. The symptom demonstrates:

A nurse talks with a person whose spouse died suddenly while jogging. Which is the appropriate statement for the nurse?

A woman whose husband is terminally ill says, "I don't want to cry in front of him. I don't want him to know how soon death will occur or how sad I am." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?