Chapter 36 Practice Questions - Grief and Loss Flashcards
A nurse encounters a family who experienced the death of their adult child last year. The parents are talking about the upcoming anniversary of their child’s death. The nurse spends time with them discussing their child’s life and death. Which nursing principle does the nurse’s action best demonstrate?
a. Facilitation of normal mourning
b. Pain-management technique
c. Grief evaluation
d. Palliative care
a. Facilitation of normal mourning
A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer asks the nurse what the criteria are for hospice care. Which information should the nurse share with the patient?
a. It is for those needing assistance with pain management.
b. It is for those having a terminal illness, such as cancer.
c. It is for those with completion of an advance directive.
d. It is for those expected to live less than 6 months.
d. It is for those expected to live less than 6 months.
A terminally ill patient is experiencing constipation secondary to pain medication. Which is the best method for the nurse to improve the patient’s constipation problem?
a. Contact the health care provider to discontinue pain medication.
b. Administer enemas twice daily for 7 days.
c. Massage the patient’s abdomen.
d. Use a laxative.
d. Use a laxative.
A severely depressed patient cannot state any positive attributes to life. The nurse patiently sits with this patient and assists the patient to identify several activities the patient is actually looking forward to in life. Which spiritual concept is the nurse trying to promote?
a. Time management
b. Reminiscence
c. Hope
d. Faith
c. Hope
In preparation for the eventual death of a hospice patient, the nurse organizes a meeting of all hospice caregivers. A plan of care to be followed when this patient dies is prepared. Which information will be included in the plan?
a. Avoid discussing the death with immediate family members.
b. Discuss expectations of normal grieving with the family and friends.
c. Encourage the patient’s family and friends to verbally express their needs.
d. Assure family members they will not be expected to assist with postmortem care
c. Encourage the patient’s family and friends to verbally express their needs.
Family members gather in the emergency department after learning that a family member was involved in a motor vehicle accident. After learning of the family member’s unexpected death, the surviving family members begin to cry and scream in despair. Which phase does the nurse determine the family is in according to the Attachment Theory?
a. Numbing
b. Reorganization
c. Yearning and searching
d. Disorganization and despair
c. Yearning and searching
A nursing assistive personnel (NAP) is caring for a dying patient. Which action by the NAP will cause the nurse to intervene?
a. Elevating head of bed
b. Making the patient eat
c. Giving mouth care every 2 to 4 hours
d. Keeping skin clean, dry, and moisturized
b. Making the patient eat
An Orthodox Jewish rabbi has been pronounced dead. The nursing assistive personnel respectfully ask family members to leave the room and go home as postmortem care is provided. Which statement from the supervising nurse is best?
a. “I should have called a male colleague to handle the body.”
b. “Family members stay with the body as part of the mourning ritual.”
c. “I wish they would go home because we have work to do here.”
d. “Family will quietly leave after praying and touching the rabbi’s head.”
b. “Family members stay with the body as part of the mourning ritual.”
A palliative team is caring for a dying patient in severe pain. Which action is the priority?
a. Provide postmortem care for the patient.
b. Support the patient’s nurse in grieving.
c. Teach the patient the stages of grief.
d. Enhance the patient’s quality of life.
d. Enhance the patient’s quality of life.
A veteran is hospitalized after surgical amputation of both lower extremities owing to injuries sustained during military service. Which type of loss will the nurse focus the plan of care on for this patient?
a. Perceived loss
b. Situational loss
c. Maturational loss
d. Uncomplicated loss
b. Situational loss
I know it seems strange, but I feel guilty being pregnant after the death of my son last year,” said a woman during her routine obstetrical examination. The nurse spends extra time with this woman, helping her realize bonding with this unborn child will not mean she is replacing the one who died. Which nursing technique does this demonstrate?
a. Providing curative therapy
b. Promoting spirituality
c. Facilitating mourning
d. Eradicating grief
c. Facilitating mourning
A patient has had two family members die during the past 2 days. Which coping strategy is most appropriate for the nurse to suggest to the patient?
a. Writing in a journal
b. Drinking a little alcohol to go to sleep
c. Exercising vigorously rather than sleeping
d. Avoiding talking about the deaths with friends
a. Writing in a journal
A nurse is called into the supervisor’s office regarding deteriorating work performance since the loss of a spouse 2 years ago. The nurse begins sobbing and says, “I’m falling apart at home as well”. Which type of grief is the nurse experiencing?
a. Normal grief
b. Perceived grief
c. Complicated grief
d. Disenfranchised grief
c. Complicated grief
A nurse is caring for a patient in the last stages of dying. Which finding indicates the nurse needs to prepare the family for death?
a. Redness of skin
b. Clear-colored urine
c. Tense muscles tone
d. Cheyne-Stokes breathing
d. Cheyne-Stokes breathing
The mother of a child who died recently keeps the child’s room intact. Family members are encouraging her to redecorate and move forward in life. Which type of grief will the home health nurse recognize the mother is experiencing?
a. Normal
b. End-of-life
c. Abnormal
d. Complicated
a. Normal
