,1. The nurse is providing support to the family of a recently deceased client. A family member
states, "My father took me fishing all the time. He can't physically take me anymore, but he will
be watching over me. I really miss him." The nurse recognizes the family member is
experiencing which of the following?
A) Mourning
B) Anticipatory grief
C) Disenfranchised grief
D) Bereavement
Correct Answer: Bereavement
Rationale: Bereavement is the state of having lost a significant other through death and
encompasses the sadness and emotional response to loss. The family member is expressing the
sadness and emotional pain of missing their father, which is the hallmark of bereavement .
Mourning involves the outward expressions of grief, anticipatory grief occurs before the death,
and disenfranchised grief is not socially recognized.
2. A nurse educator is providing an in-service to nursing staff on a unit that has recently
experienced an increase in client deaths. The nurse educator knows that a priority
recommendation for nurses who are struggling to cope with all the loss is:
A) Creating sustainable practice of self-care and balance
B) Working additional shifts to provide support for each other
C) Volunteering on days off to stay busy and make a positive difference
D) Temporarily transferring to another unit with fewer terminal diagnoses
Correct Answer: Creating sustainable practice of self-care and balance
Rationale: Nurses working in high-acuity areas with frequent patient deaths are at risk for
compassion fatigue and burnout. Creating a sustainable practice of self-care and balance is the
,priority recommendation to prevent burnout and maintain emotional well-being . Self-care
strategies are essential for nurses to continue providing quality care without compromising their
own mental health.
3. The nurse is caring for a client whose spouse of 52 years suddenly died. Which statement by
the nurse is most therapeutic?
A) "Your loved one is no longer in pain; you should be happy for that."
B) "You can be grateful for the time you had together."
C) "Your loved one was very special and will not be replaceable."
D) "I know how you feel; I have had many family members pass away."
Correct Answer: "Your loved one was very special and will not be replaceable."
Rationale: Validating the unique and irreplaceable nature of the relationship is therapeutic
because it acknowledges the depth of the client's loss . It avoids false reassurance, minimizing
the loss, or focusing on the nurse's own experiences, which are non-therapeutic. This response
validates the significance of the loss without platitudes.
4. The nurse is caring for a client who is dying and in severe pain. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse consider as the priority?
A) Teach the client the end stages of grief.
B) Enhance the client's quality of life.
C) Encourage the client to speak to a grief counselor.
D) Support the client's family in grieving.
Correct Answer: Enhance the client's quality of life.
, Rationale: For a client who is dying and in severe pain, the priority is palliative care focused on
symptom management and enhancing quality of life . Addressing physical pain and comfort is
the most immediate need before other interventions, such as teaching or counseling, can be
effective. This aligns with hospice and palliative care principles.
5. The nurse is caring for a terminally ill client. Which statement by the nurse best demonstrates
the art of presence?
A) "Would you like to talk about what this experience is like for you?"
B) "I am going to sit here and read a book, just pretend I am not here."
C) "I am going to the other room so you can be alone and reflect on your life; please call out if
you need me."
D) "Are you feeling guilty about leaving your wife and kids behind?"
Correct Answer: "Would you like to talk about what this experience is like for you?"
Rationale: The art of presence involves being fully available and attentive to the client, offering
an opportunity to explore their feelings without imposing an agenda. This open-ended question
invites the client to share their experience if they choose, demonstrating therapeutic presence .
The other options either avoid engagement, abandon the client, or make presumptuous
statements.
6. The home health nurse is caring for a client who is dying from acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). The client is competent and asks the nurse to help with assisted suicide. The
nurse tells the client they will not assist with the request. Which ethical principle is the nurse
demonstrating?
A) Autonomy
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Individual liberty
D) Beneficence
states, "My father took me fishing all the time. He can't physically take me anymore, but he will
be watching over me. I really miss him." The nurse recognizes the family member is
experiencing which of the following?
A) Mourning
B) Anticipatory grief
C) Disenfranchised grief
D) Bereavement
Correct Answer: Bereavement
Rationale: Bereavement is the state of having lost a significant other through death and
encompasses the sadness and emotional response to loss. The family member is expressing the
sadness and emotional pain of missing their father, which is the hallmark of bereavement .
Mourning involves the outward expressions of grief, anticipatory grief occurs before the death,
and disenfranchised grief is not socially recognized.
2. A nurse educator is providing an in-service to nursing staff on a unit that has recently
experienced an increase in client deaths. The nurse educator knows that a priority
recommendation for nurses who are struggling to cope with all the loss is:
A) Creating sustainable practice of self-care and balance
B) Working additional shifts to provide support for each other
C) Volunteering on days off to stay busy and make a positive difference
D) Temporarily transferring to another unit with fewer terminal diagnoses
Correct Answer: Creating sustainable practice of self-care and balance
Rationale: Nurses working in high-acuity areas with frequent patient deaths are at risk for
compassion fatigue and burnout. Creating a sustainable practice of self-care and balance is the
,priority recommendation to prevent burnout and maintain emotional well-being . Self-care
strategies are essential for nurses to continue providing quality care without compromising their
own mental health.
3. The nurse is caring for a client whose spouse of 52 years suddenly died. Which statement by
the nurse is most therapeutic?
A) "Your loved one is no longer in pain; you should be happy for that."
B) "You can be grateful for the time you had together."
C) "Your loved one was very special and will not be replaceable."
D) "I know how you feel; I have had many family members pass away."
Correct Answer: "Your loved one was very special and will not be replaceable."
Rationale: Validating the unique and irreplaceable nature of the relationship is therapeutic
because it acknowledges the depth of the client's loss . It avoids false reassurance, minimizing
the loss, or focusing on the nurse's own experiences, which are non-therapeutic. This response
validates the significance of the loss without platitudes.
4. The nurse is caring for a client who is dying and in severe pain. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse consider as the priority?
A) Teach the client the end stages of grief.
B) Enhance the client's quality of life.
C) Encourage the client to speak to a grief counselor.
D) Support the client's family in grieving.
Correct Answer: Enhance the client's quality of life.
, Rationale: For a client who is dying and in severe pain, the priority is palliative care focused on
symptom management and enhancing quality of life . Addressing physical pain and comfort is
the most immediate need before other interventions, such as teaching or counseling, can be
effective. This aligns with hospice and palliative care principles.
5. The nurse is caring for a terminally ill client. Which statement by the nurse best demonstrates
the art of presence?
A) "Would you like to talk about what this experience is like for you?"
B) "I am going to sit here and read a book, just pretend I am not here."
C) "I am going to the other room so you can be alone and reflect on your life; please call out if
you need me."
D) "Are you feeling guilty about leaving your wife and kids behind?"
Correct Answer: "Would you like to talk about what this experience is like for you?"
Rationale: The art of presence involves being fully available and attentive to the client, offering
an opportunity to explore their feelings without imposing an agenda. This open-ended question
invites the client to share their experience if they choose, demonstrating therapeutic presence .
The other options either avoid engagement, abandon the client, or make presumptuous
statements.
6. The home health nurse is caring for a client who is dying from acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). The client is competent and asks the nurse to help with assisted suicide. The
nurse tells the client they will not assist with the request. Which ethical principle is the nurse
demonstrating?
A) Autonomy
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Individual liberty
D) Beneficence
