Exam 17: Nursing Care of Patients at the End of Life

A terminally ill patient who is not able to talk is demonstrating restlessness.What actions can the nurse take to help this patient achieve comfort? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse finds a patient unresponsive and not breathing.While beginning CPR,the nurse realizes that the best outcome for this patient would be if CPR was started at which time?

A dying patient is experiencing copious secretions,difficulty in swallowing,and labored breathing.Which interventions should the nurse carry out? (Select all that apply.)

During the last vital signs assessment,a patient with end-stage heart failure has a body temperature of 102°F.Which action should the nurse take at this time?

The nurse is concerned that a patient has a short time left to live.Which criterion is the nurse using that indicates a prognosis of 6 months or less to live? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is identifying approaches so that a terminally ill patient experiences a "good death." Which strategies should the nurse select to meet this goal? (Select all that apply.)

The spouse of a patient with end-stage renal disease sits quietly at the patient's bedside,staring at the patient as the patient slips into a coma.What should the nurse do at this time?

A terminally ill patient is experiencing mouth discomfort.Which actions should the nurse take to help this patient? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is providing hospice care for a patient in the terminal phase of lung cancer.Which nursing actions would be appropriate? (Select all that apply.)

The spouse of a patient who died from a terminal illness expresses guilt for not encouraging the patient to seek medical attention sooner.The nurse realizes that the spouse is experiencing which stage of the grief process?

A patient is very restless and agitated near the end of life,and the physician orders haloperidol (Haldol)by mouth.However,the patient coughs and chokes every time foods or fluids are offered.Which action should the nurse take?

A patient with terminal cancer has just died.Which actions should the nurse take during the immediate postmortem period? (Select all that apply.)

The adult daughter of a terminally ill patient is upset because the patient is confused and is talking to people who are not in the room.What should the nurse do to help the patient and daughter? (Select all that apply.)

A family member is concerned that a patient near the end of life is not eating or drinking and asks the nurse how the family can help the patient increase oral intake.Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

A patient asks what a do not resuscitate order means.What should the nurse explain to the patient?

The nurse is reviewing a terminally ill patient's advance directive.In which part of this directive should the nurse find the patient's instructions to the physician concerning the care wanted as death nears?

The nurse observes a terminal patient making a gurgling sound when breathing.Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to guide interventions for this patient?

The nurse is scheduling a hospice team to meet with the family of a dying patient.Which individuals will most likely participate in this meeting? (Select all that apply.)

The family of a dying patient is sitting at the bedside,silently watching the patient slip into a coma.What should the nurse suggest to the family at this time?

A patient with lung cancer who expected to die within a few days is being given a blood transfusion.Family members,who realize death is imminent,ask,"Why are you giving a blood transfusion when we all know death is just around the corner?" What should the nurse respond to the family?