RNRS 117 THE CONCEPT OF GRIEF & LOSS PEARSON QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | RNRS 117 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
The nurse is consoling the family of a patient who has just passed away. The patient and family practice
the Jewish faith. It is currently the Sabbath day.
Which intervention should the nurse perform first?
Notifying the funeral home to take the patient
Keeping the patient in the room until the Sabbath is over
Preparing the body to be taken to the morgue as soon as possible
Moving the patient to a private room to allow grieving - ✔✔Keeping the patient in the room until the
Sabbath is over
The parish nurse is visiting the home of an older patient who just lost their spouse a couple of months
ago. The patient has a diminished appetite, does not want to leave the house, and does not enjoy
activities anymore.
The nurse should consider that which factor would most impact the grieving process?
Paperwork related to the estate
Loss of ability to drive
Inability to use a computer
Difficulty cooking for one - ✔✔Loss of ability to drive
The parents of a 4-year-old child state that their child has been regressing in their toilet training,
demanding extra attention, and has no interest in playing. The family has recently experienced the death
of the grandmother, who lived with them in the household.
How should the nurse respond to the family's concerns?
"These are expected behaviors for a child their age in dealing with the loss of a close grandparent."
"This is common behavior for a 4-year-old child due to learning and testing independence."
"Maybe your child has an infection? It is best to let the doctor evaluate the symptoms."
"I'm sure you have been busy with the recent loss, and your child just needs your attention." -
✔✔"These are expected behaviors for a child their age in dealing with the loss of a close grandparent."
The nurse is caring for a patient who experienced a miscarriage at 17 weeks of gestation.
Which type of grief should the nurse assess for during the 2-week follow-up visit?
Anticipatory
Bittersweet
Dysfunctional
Disenfranchised - ✔✔Disenfranchised
The nurse is caring for a patient who passed away 10 minutes ago. The nurse and the unlicensed
assistive personnel prepare the body for the family to view.
Which action by the nurse indicates a need for a coworker or the nurse manager to intervene?
, The nurse providing the family extra time with the deceased to say their goodbyes
The nurse allowing the spouse to comb the patient's hair
The nurse sobbing in the room with the patient's family
The nurse providing extra chairs for the patient's room - ✔✔The nurse sobbing in the room with the
patient's family
A 6-year-old child tells the school nurse that their stepfather, who was physically abusive, has died. The
child reports being confused that they are both happy and sad that their stepfather died.
The nurse should document that the child is experiencing which type of grief reaction?
Complicated grief reaction
Anticipatory grief
Childhood traumatic grief
Disenfranchised grief - ✔✔Complicated grief reaction
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a child who is dying?
Providing 24-hour live-in assistance to care for the child
Suggesting that the child be hospitalized for all care
Minimizing the number of visitors allowed at one time
Allowing the parents to assist with the child's care - ✔✔Allowing the parents to assist with the child's
care
The nurse is assigned to care for four patients today in a medical-surgical unit.
Which patient should the nurse expect to experience anticipatory grief?
The patient who is scheduled for a mastectomy this afternoon
The patient who had an above-the-knee amputation last month
The patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus 2 months ago
The patient who lost a spouse 2 months ago to metastatic cancer - ✔✔The patient who is scheduled for
a mastectomy this afternoon
The nurse is visiting a family whose 15-year-old child died. The family has two remaining children, aged
11 and 9.
Which information should the nurse provide the siblings regarding the loss of their older sibling?
The reality of their sibling's death and that it is final
The importance of talking with the school counselor
The need to help their parents with chores
That the death of their sibling is not their fault - ✔✔That the deal of their sibling is not their fault
The nurse is assessing a patient who just lost their significant other yesterday to cancer documents that
the family of the significant other did not approve of the relationship nor accepts the patient's grief.
Which patient statement supports this assessment finding?
"My partner's family asked for some personal mementos and pictures."
"My partner's family is leaving me stuck with all the medical bills."
"My partner's family disagrees with his wishes to be cremated."
ANSWERS | RNRS 117 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
The nurse is consoling the family of a patient who has just passed away. The patient and family practice
the Jewish faith. It is currently the Sabbath day.
Which intervention should the nurse perform first?
Notifying the funeral home to take the patient
Keeping the patient in the room until the Sabbath is over
Preparing the body to be taken to the morgue as soon as possible
Moving the patient to a private room to allow grieving - ✔✔Keeping the patient in the room until the
Sabbath is over
The parish nurse is visiting the home of an older patient who just lost their spouse a couple of months
ago. The patient has a diminished appetite, does not want to leave the house, and does not enjoy
activities anymore.
The nurse should consider that which factor would most impact the grieving process?
Paperwork related to the estate
Loss of ability to drive
Inability to use a computer
Difficulty cooking for one - ✔✔Loss of ability to drive
The parents of a 4-year-old child state that their child has been regressing in their toilet training,
demanding extra attention, and has no interest in playing. The family has recently experienced the death
of the grandmother, who lived with them in the household.
How should the nurse respond to the family's concerns?
"These are expected behaviors for a child their age in dealing with the loss of a close grandparent."
"This is common behavior for a 4-year-old child due to learning and testing independence."
"Maybe your child has an infection? It is best to let the doctor evaluate the symptoms."
"I'm sure you have been busy with the recent loss, and your child just needs your attention." -
✔✔"These are expected behaviors for a child their age in dealing with the loss of a close grandparent."
The nurse is caring for a patient who experienced a miscarriage at 17 weeks of gestation.
Which type of grief should the nurse assess for during the 2-week follow-up visit?
Anticipatory
Bittersweet
Dysfunctional
Disenfranchised - ✔✔Disenfranchised
The nurse is caring for a patient who passed away 10 minutes ago. The nurse and the unlicensed
assistive personnel prepare the body for the family to view.
Which action by the nurse indicates a need for a coworker or the nurse manager to intervene?
, The nurse providing the family extra time with the deceased to say their goodbyes
The nurse allowing the spouse to comb the patient's hair
The nurse sobbing in the room with the patient's family
The nurse providing extra chairs for the patient's room - ✔✔The nurse sobbing in the room with the
patient's family
A 6-year-old child tells the school nurse that their stepfather, who was physically abusive, has died. The
child reports being confused that they are both happy and sad that their stepfather died.
The nurse should document that the child is experiencing which type of grief reaction?
Complicated grief reaction
Anticipatory grief
Childhood traumatic grief
Disenfranchised grief - ✔✔Complicated grief reaction
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a child who is dying?
Providing 24-hour live-in assistance to care for the child
Suggesting that the child be hospitalized for all care
Minimizing the number of visitors allowed at one time
Allowing the parents to assist with the child's care - ✔✔Allowing the parents to assist with the child's
care
The nurse is assigned to care for four patients today in a medical-surgical unit.
Which patient should the nurse expect to experience anticipatory grief?
The patient who is scheduled for a mastectomy this afternoon
The patient who had an above-the-knee amputation last month
The patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus 2 months ago
The patient who lost a spouse 2 months ago to metastatic cancer - ✔✔The patient who is scheduled for
a mastectomy this afternoon
The nurse is visiting a family whose 15-year-old child died. The family has two remaining children, aged
11 and 9.
Which information should the nurse provide the siblings regarding the loss of their older sibling?
The reality of their sibling's death and that it is final
The importance of talking with the school counselor
The need to help their parents with chores
That the death of their sibling is not their fault - ✔✔That the deal of their sibling is not their fault
The nurse is assessing a patient who just lost their significant other yesterday to cancer documents that
the family of the significant other did not approve of the relationship nor accepts the patient's grief.
Which patient statement supports this assessment finding?
"My partner's family asked for some personal mementos and pictures."
"My partner's family is leaving me stuck with all the medical bills."
"My partner's family disagrees with his wishes to be cremated."
