NSG 3130 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE FULL
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
●● Why is self-awareness important when caring for grieving patients or
families?
Answer: Helps maintain professional presence, prevents projecting
personal emotions, encourages empathetic communication.
●● What is anticipatory grieving and when does it occur?
Answer: Begins before the actual loss, affects both patients and family
members, involves grieving the loss before death.
●● How should nurses care for terminally ill patients and their families
during anticipatory grieving?
Answer: Treat the patient and family as a unit, focus on symptom
management, ensure comfort, preserve dignity, be present and
compassionate.
●● How should nurses handle anger or frustration from family members
during end-of-life care?
Answer: Recognize it's not personal; stay calm and empathetic; offer
clear explanations; respond with empathy and patience.
●● What are the five stages of grief according to Kübler-Ross?
,Answer: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance; stages are
not sequential.
●● What characterizes the denial stage of grief?
Answer: Person refuses to accept the diagnosis; may seek multiple
opinions; defense mechanism to buffer shock; nurses must be
supportive.
●● How do patients express anger during grief, and how should nurses
respond?
Answer: Patients may express anger verbally or physically; nurses
should stay calm, ensure safety, and offer coping strategies.
●● What behaviors occur during the bargaining stage?
Answer: Patient tries to negotiate for more time or a different outcome;
nursing interventions include listening and avoiding giving advice.
●● What occurs during the depression stage of grief, and how should
nurses respond?
Answer: Patient acknowledges reality of death; nurses should avoid false
reassurance and offer presence and empathy.
●● What characterizes the acceptance stage of grief?
, Answer: Patient comes to terms with death; may become quiet and
reflective; nurses should respect the need for quiet.
●● How can nurses use the Kübler-Ross model in patient care?
Answer: Helps identify emotional needs at each stage; guides
communication and interventions; promotes empathy and individualized
care.
●● What does 'the art of presence' mean in end-of-life care?
Answer: Being fully attentive and emotionally available; communicating
empathy without words.
●● What is the overall goal for nurses during grief and loss care?
Answer: Provide nonjudgmental, compassionate care; maintain dignity
and comfort; support both physical and emotional needs.
●● What is the difference between grief, loss, and bereavement?
Answer: Grief: emotional response to loss; Loss: change in valued
person or situation; Bereavement: state of having experienced a loss
through death.
●● What are the four main types of loss?
Answer: Actual loss, Perceived loss, Anticipatory loss, Situational loss.
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
●● Why is self-awareness important when caring for grieving patients or
families?
Answer: Helps maintain professional presence, prevents projecting
personal emotions, encourages empathetic communication.
●● What is anticipatory grieving and when does it occur?
Answer: Begins before the actual loss, affects both patients and family
members, involves grieving the loss before death.
●● How should nurses care for terminally ill patients and their families
during anticipatory grieving?
Answer: Treat the patient and family as a unit, focus on symptom
management, ensure comfort, preserve dignity, be present and
compassionate.
●● How should nurses handle anger or frustration from family members
during end-of-life care?
Answer: Recognize it's not personal; stay calm and empathetic; offer
clear explanations; respond with empathy and patience.
●● What are the five stages of grief according to Kübler-Ross?
,Answer: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance; stages are
not sequential.
●● What characterizes the denial stage of grief?
Answer: Person refuses to accept the diagnosis; may seek multiple
opinions; defense mechanism to buffer shock; nurses must be
supportive.
●● How do patients express anger during grief, and how should nurses
respond?
Answer: Patients may express anger verbally or physically; nurses
should stay calm, ensure safety, and offer coping strategies.
●● What behaviors occur during the bargaining stage?
Answer: Patient tries to negotiate for more time or a different outcome;
nursing interventions include listening and avoiding giving advice.
●● What occurs during the depression stage of grief, and how should
nurses respond?
Answer: Patient acknowledges reality of death; nurses should avoid false
reassurance and offer presence and empathy.
●● What characterizes the acceptance stage of grief?
, Answer: Patient comes to terms with death; may become quiet and
reflective; nurses should respect the need for quiet.
●● How can nurses use the Kübler-Ross model in patient care?
Answer: Helps identify emotional needs at each stage; guides
communication and interventions; promotes empathy and individualized
care.
●● What does 'the art of presence' mean in end-of-life care?
Answer: Being fully attentive and emotionally available; communicating
empathy without words.
●● What is the overall goal for nurses during grief and loss care?
Answer: Provide nonjudgmental, compassionate care; maintain dignity
and comfort; support both physical and emotional needs.
●● What is the difference between grief, loss, and bereavement?
Answer: Grief: emotional response to loss; Loss: change in valued
person or situation; Bereavement: state of having experienced a loss
through death.
●● What are the four main types of loss?
Answer: Actual loss, Perceived loss, Anticipatory loss, Situational loss.
