Galen NUR 257 Exam 1 – Concepts of Aging & Chronic
Illness – (2026/2027) Actual Questions & Answers, 100%
Guarantee Pass
SECTION 1: END-OF-LIFE & PALLIATIVE CARE
Question 1
The nurse is providing care for an actively dying client. Which action should the
nurse prioritize?
A) Encourage the client to eat small meals to maintain strength
B) Administer and document all PRN medications to keep the client comfortable
C) Perform a full head-to-toe assessment every 2 hours
D) Notify the provider about the client's declining condition
Answer: B
Rationale: During the actively dying phase, the priority is symptom control
including pain, dyspnea, and anxiety to ensure comfort and dignity. PRN
medications should be administered and documented to maintain comfort.
Encouraging food intake (A) is inappropriate as the dying client loses the ability to
swallow and digest. Frequent full assessments (C) may cause unnecessary
discomfort. Notifying the provider (D) is not the priority over comfort measures .
Question 2
The nurse is teaching a family about complementary therapies for their dying
loved one. Which statement by the family indicates correct understanding?
A) "We should stop all prescribed medications and use only herbal remedies"
B) "We will bring in aromatherapy oils to replace the pain medication"
C) "We will create a playlist of their favorite songs to help decrease anxiety"
D) "We will ask the doctor to remove all medical equipment"
Answer: C
Rationale: Music therapy using familiar, preferred music can reduce pain, anxiety,
and agitation in older adults at the end of life. Complementary therapies should
,support, not replace (B), prescribed treatments. Stopping medications (A) or
removing equipment (D) is unsafe and not indicated .
Question 3
The nurse is planning staff education on grief and bereavement. Which common
grieving reaction in surviving partners should the nurse include?
A) Increased social engagement and new friendships
B) Inability to share grief, loss of social contact, and erosion of self-confidence
C) Immediate return to normal daily activities
D) Decreased need for emotional support
Answer: B
Rationale: Surviving partners often experience isolation, role changes, and
diminished self-confidence. They may withdraw socially and struggle to express
grief. Increased social engagement (A) and immediate return to normal activities
(C) are not typical. Decreased need for support (D) is contrary to the grieving
process .
Question 4
A nurse is planning interventions to help a grieving client. Which intervention
should be included?
A) Encourage the client to avoid discussing their feelings
B) Tell the client to "move on" and focus on the future
C) Engage in active listening and give the client permission to express emotion
D) Advise the client to keep busy to avoid thinking about the loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Supportive, presence-based interventions help older adults process
grief while maintaining function. Validating emotions aligns with holistic
bereavement care. Avoiding feelings (A), telling the client to move on (B), or
keeping busy to avoid thinking (D) are unhealthy coping mechanisms .
,Question 5
A client with a chronic illness is in the crisis phase of the illness trajectory. Which
finding is most consistent with this phase?
A) The client is adjusting to a new diagnosis
B) The client is experiencing a life-threatening situation
C) The client is in remission and symptoms are stable
D) The client is participating in rehabilitation activities
Answer: B
Rationale: The crisis phase of chronic illness is characterized by a life-threatening
situation requiring immediate intervention. Adjusting to a new diagnosis (A),
stable remission (C), and rehabilitation (D) are not consistent with the crisis phase
.
Question 6
The nurse is caring for a dying client who is restless and breathing irregularly.
Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A) Increase the client's oxygen flow rate
B) Administer prescribed morphine for dyspnea
C) Suction the client's airway
D) Reposition the client to a high-Fowler's position
Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine is the medication of choice for managing dyspnea and
restlessness in the actively dying client. It reduces the work of breathing and
anxiety. Increasing oxygen (A) may not address the underlying distress. Suctioning
(C) can cause trauma and is not routinely indicated. High-Fowler's (D) may be
uncomfortable .
Question 7
The nurse is discussing advance directives with an older adult. Which statement
by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
, A) "I can change my advance directive at any time"
B) "A living will tells my family what treatments I want"
C) "Once I sign an advance directive, it cannot be changed"
D) "I should discuss my wishes with my healthcare proxy"
Answer: C
Rationale: Advance directives can be changed or revoked at any time by the client
if they are competent. Statements A, B, and D are correct and indicate
understanding .
Question 8
The nurse is caring for a client at the end of life who has noisy respirations. What
intervention should the nurse implement?
A) Suction the oropharynx deeply
B) Administer an anticholinergic medication as prescribed
C) Increase IV fluids to thin secretions
D) Place the client in a prone position
Answer: B
Rationale: Noisy respirations ("death rattle") are caused by excessive secretions.
Anticholinergic medications such as scopolamine or glycopyrrolate help dry
secretions. Deep suctioning (A) is uncomfortable and ineffective. Increasing fluids
(C) may worsen secretions. Prone position (D) is unsafe .
Question 9
The nurse is providing bereavement support to a family after a client's death.
Which statement is most therapeutic?
A) "I know exactly how you feel"
B) "At least they are no longer suffering"
C) "Tell me about your loved one and what they meant to you"
D) "You should be strong for the rest of the family"
Answer: C
Rationale: Encouraging the family to share memories validates their grief and
Illness – (2026/2027) Actual Questions & Answers, 100%
Guarantee Pass
SECTION 1: END-OF-LIFE & PALLIATIVE CARE
Question 1
The nurse is providing care for an actively dying client. Which action should the
nurse prioritize?
A) Encourage the client to eat small meals to maintain strength
B) Administer and document all PRN medications to keep the client comfortable
C) Perform a full head-to-toe assessment every 2 hours
D) Notify the provider about the client's declining condition
Answer: B
Rationale: During the actively dying phase, the priority is symptom control
including pain, dyspnea, and anxiety to ensure comfort and dignity. PRN
medications should be administered and documented to maintain comfort.
Encouraging food intake (A) is inappropriate as the dying client loses the ability to
swallow and digest. Frequent full assessments (C) may cause unnecessary
discomfort. Notifying the provider (D) is not the priority over comfort measures .
Question 2
The nurse is teaching a family about complementary therapies for their dying
loved one. Which statement by the family indicates correct understanding?
A) "We should stop all prescribed medications and use only herbal remedies"
B) "We will bring in aromatherapy oils to replace the pain medication"
C) "We will create a playlist of their favorite songs to help decrease anxiety"
D) "We will ask the doctor to remove all medical equipment"
Answer: C
Rationale: Music therapy using familiar, preferred music can reduce pain, anxiety,
and agitation in older adults at the end of life. Complementary therapies should
,support, not replace (B), prescribed treatments. Stopping medications (A) or
removing equipment (D) is unsafe and not indicated .
Question 3
The nurse is planning staff education on grief and bereavement. Which common
grieving reaction in surviving partners should the nurse include?
A) Increased social engagement and new friendships
B) Inability to share grief, loss of social contact, and erosion of self-confidence
C) Immediate return to normal daily activities
D) Decreased need for emotional support
Answer: B
Rationale: Surviving partners often experience isolation, role changes, and
diminished self-confidence. They may withdraw socially and struggle to express
grief. Increased social engagement (A) and immediate return to normal activities
(C) are not typical. Decreased need for support (D) is contrary to the grieving
process .
Question 4
A nurse is planning interventions to help a grieving client. Which intervention
should be included?
A) Encourage the client to avoid discussing their feelings
B) Tell the client to "move on" and focus on the future
C) Engage in active listening and give the client permission to express emotion
D) Advise the client to keep busy to avoid thinking about the loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Supportive, presence-based interventions help older adults process
grief while maintaining function. Validating emotions aligns with holistic
bereavement care. Avoiding feelings (A), telling the client to move on (B), or
keeping busy to avoid thinking (D) are unhealthy coping mechanisms .
,Question 5
A client with a chronic illness is in the crisis phase of the illness trajectory. Which
finding is most consistent with this phase?
A) The client is adjusting to a new diagnosis
B) The client is experiencing a life-threatening situation
C) The client is in remission and symptoms are stable
D) The client is participating in rehabilitation activities
Answer: B
Rationale: The crisis phase of chronic illness is characterized by a life-threatening
situation requiring immediate intervention. Adjusting to a new diagnosis (A),
stable remission (C), and rehabilitation (D) are not consistent with the crisis phase
.
Question 6
The nurse is caring for a dying client who is restless and breathing irregularly.
Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A) Increase the client's oxygen flow rate
B) Administer prescribed morphine for dyspnea
C) Suction the client's airway
D) Reposition the client to a high-Fowler's position
Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine is the medication of choice for managing dyspnea and
restlessness in the actively dying client. It reduces the work of breathing and
anxiety. Increasing oxygen (A) may not address the underlying distress. Suctioning
(C) can cause trauma and is not routinely indicated. High-Fowler's (D) may be
uncomfortable .
Question 7
The nurse is discussing advance directives with an older adult. Which statement
by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
, A) "I can change my advance directive at any time"
B) "A living will tells my family what treatments I want"
C) "Once I sign an advance directive, it cannot be changed"
D) "I should discuss my wishes with my healthcare proxy"
Answer: C
Rationale: Advance directives can be changed or revoked at any time by the client
if they are competent. Statements A, B, and D are correct and indicate
understanding .
Question 8
The nurse is caring for a client at the end of life who has noisy respirations. What
intervention should the nurse implement?
A) Suction the oropharynx deeply
B) Administer an anticholinergic medication as prescribed
C) Increase IV fluids to thin secretions
D) Place the client in a prone position
Answer: B
Rationale: Noisy respirations ("death rattle") are caused by excessive secretions.
Anticholinergic medications such as scopolamine or glycopyrrolate help dry
secretions. Deep suctioning (A) is uncomfortable and ineffective. Increasing fluids
(C) may worsen secretions. Prone position (D) is unsafe .
Question 9
The nurse is providing bereavement support to a family after a client's death.
Which statement is most therapeutic?
A) "I know exactly how you feel"
B) "At least they are no longer suffering"
C) "Tell me about your loved one and what they meant to you"
D) "You should be strong for the rest of the family"
Answer: C
Rationale: Encouraging the family to share memories validates their grief and
