Chapter 15

Question 1

Which medical problem is included in the top 10 leading causes of death?

Answer 1

Alzheimers Diease - 7th

Question 2

A pt has experienced the recent death of a spose. During a conversation with a nurse, the pt begins to cry. what is an appropriate response from the nurse?

Answer 2

hand the pt a tissue

Question 3

who identified the five stages of the dying process?

Answer 3

Kubler-Ross

Question 4

which statement is true regarding pain control in the dying?

Answer 4

the goal is to allow a pain free death

Question 5

which clinical sign or symptom is common in a dying pt?

Answer 5

constipation

Question 6

a pt is approaching death and is growing physically weaker. what should the nurse expect

Answer 6

respirations sound moist - pooling of secretions in lungs

Question 7

which is to be a biolation of the American nurses Association’s (ANA’s) code for nurses?

Answer 7

Active Euthanasia and Assisted Suicde

Question 8

A report to a Coroner would be required in which situation

Answer 8

a death due to a stroke that occured 12 hours after admission to a hostpital

Question 9

which are grief indications? 3

Answer 9

Denial, Anger, and Acceptance

Question 10

__ is the state of having suffered a loss by death

Answer 10

Bereavement

Question 11

To no longer possess or have an object, person, or situation

Answer 11

loss

Question 12

The total emotional feeling of pain and distress that a person experiences as a reaction to loss

Answer 12

grief

Question 13

This happens when patients and their families face a serious or life-threatening illness, and it is believed to improve their ability to cope with the loss when it occurs

Answer 13

anticipatory grieving

Question 14

What are the five grief indicators?

Answer 14

Denial, yearning anger, depression and acceptance

Question 15

The absence of a heartbeat and breathing is a historic and still widely accepted definition of ____

Answer 15

death

Question 16

The permanent stopping of integrated functioning of the person as a whole as evidenced by the absence of EEG waves

Answer 16

brain death

Question 17

A philosophy of care for the dying and their families

Answer 17

hospice

Question 18

This type of care is concerned with treating symptoms, providing comfort measures, and promoting the best quality of life possible day by remaining day

Answer 18

palliative care

Question 19

the study of death

Answer 19

thanatology

Question 20

An inner positive life force, a feeling that what is desired is possible

Answer 20

hope

Question 21

What are the 5 stages of Coping with Death (Kubler-Ross)

Answer 21

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Question 22

The relief of symptoms when cure is no longer possible, and treatment is provided solely for comfort

Answer 22

palliation

Question 23

5 steps in the nursing process

Answer 23

Assessment (Data collection)
Nursing Diagnosis
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation

Question 24

Difficulty swallowing

Answer 24

dysphagia

Question 25

respirations that gradually become shallower and are followed by periods of apnea

Answer 25

Cheyne-Stokes respirations

Question 26

To say goodbye to those people and things that are important

Answer 26

closure

Question 27

Which sense is believed to be one of the last senses to be lost before death?

Answer 27

Hearing

Question 28

a notice of the death published in newspapers

Answer 28

obituary

Question 29

An _____ ______ spells out patients’ wishes for health care at that time when they may be unable to indicate their choice

Answer 29

advance directive

Question 30

A legal document that appoints a person (health care proxy) chosen by the patient to carry out his wishes an expressed in an advance directive

Answer 30

durable power of attorney for health care

Question 31

The act of ending another person’s life to end suffering, with or without their consent

Answer 31

Euthanasia

Question 32

Occurs when a patient chooses to die by refusing treatment that might prolong life

Answer 32

Passive euthanasia

Question 33

Defined as administering a drug or treatment to end the patient’s life. This is not legal or permissible in the US

Answer 33

Active euthanasia

Question 34

_____ ______ is making available to patients the means to end their life with knowledge that suicide is their intent

Answer 34

assisted suicide

Question 35

after death

Answer 35

postmortem

Question 36

a person with legal authority to determine cause of death

Answer 36

coroner

Question 37

an examination of the body, organs, and tissues to determine the cause of death

Answer 37

autopsy

Question 38

rigidity of muscles that occurs after death

Answer 38

rigor mortis

Question 39

A patient who has been recently diagnosed with cancer says to the nurse, “If I can just live until my son graduates from college, I’ll donate 10% of my estate to the church.” The patient is in a stage described by Kubler-Ross as :

Answer 39

bargaining

Question 40

A therapeutic response the nurse could make when a patient says, “I don’t want to die” is:

Answer 40

“I’m sorry you are going through this; would you like to talk about it?”

Question 41

Carolyn is in the active phase of death and her family approaches you about Carolyn’s breathing. The family fears that the mucus they hear rattling as she breaths will cause her to choke. They want you to perform suction. How do you respond?

Answer 41

You gently explain to them that this a natural process and mucus gathers as dying patients are less able to clear their throat. You also explain that deep suctioning will only serve to put Carolyn in pain, but you suggest that you could do some light suctioning to ensure there will not be blockage

Question 42

Comfort care for a terminally ill patient would include:

Answer 42

use of medication to relieve nausea

Question 43

The priority of palliative care is to:

Answer 43

control symptoms and promote comfort without the hope of cure

Question 44

Validation of loss can be of great comfort to a grieving individual. A patient states, “I am so depressed! I didn’t know it would be so difficult to cope after losing my mother.” To validate the loss, the nurse would respond:

Answer 44

I am sorry you are having such a hard time. Tell me a little about your mother and what she meant to you

Question 45

Certain cultures believe that talking about bad things like death can bring it on. Your patient is an American Indian with advanced breast cancer whose family is at her bedside. The family has asked that you only discuss plans for a cure, and not discuss palliative measures. How do you plan for the patient’s care during the final stages of her illness?

Answer 45

The nurse discusses palliative measures with the family, being careful to discuss “comfort” and not “death”

Question 46

An assigned patient has prostate cancer and is declining rapidly. He is frightened by the progression and asks you if there is any hope. What is the best response?

Answer 46

There is always hope. Let’s look at how we can address your issues together. What is it that you are hoping for at this point?

Question 47

Ashley is in the terminal stages of pulmonary fibrosis. You open a conversation with him, asking about his wishes for care, and he says, “Why bother talking about my care anyway? The outcome will be the same - death!” The nurse responds by saying:

Answer 47

Many people experience their final months of life with comfort, the ability to cope with symptoms, and the ability to make their own decisions regarding pain and symptom relief. What are your plans for this time in your life?

Question 48

After receiving palliative care for several months, your patient has died. The family is feeling deep grief. The nurse feels saddened also, and knows that:

Answer 48

it is appropriate for the nurse to shed some tears also, allowing movement through the grief rather than trying to avoid it. The nurse may also need to seek professional assistance