NUR 253: Mental Health Nursing
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:
A. Mourning
B. Anticipatory grief
C. Disenfranchised grief
D. Bereavement
Correct Answer: A. Mourning
Explanation: According to the question, the family member is expressing the internal
experience of grief outwardly through thoughts and statements about their father. Mourning is
the process of adapting to a loss and includes the outward expression of grief, such as discussing
the deceased and their ongoing connection to them. Bereavement is the state of having suffered a
loss, while anticipatory grief occurs before the death, and disenfranchised grief is not socially
recognized.
2. The 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: A. Creating sustainable practice of self-care and balance
Explanation: When nurses struggle to cope with repeated losses, the priority intervention
focuses on self-care and work-life balance to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout. Working
additional shifts or volunteering on days off would increase stress and fatigue, while transferring
units does not address the underlying need for healthy coping mechanisms.
3. The nurse is caring for a client whose spouse of 52 years suddenly died. Which of the
following statements 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: C. "Your loved one was very special and will not be replaceable."
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:
A. Mourning
B. Anticipatory grief
C. Disenfranchised grief
D. Bereavement
Correct Answer: A. Mourning
Explanation: According to the question, the family member is expressing the internal
experience of grief outwardly through thoughts and statements about their father. Mourning is
the process of adapting to a loss and includes the outward expression of grief, such as discussing
the deceased and their ongoing connection to them. Bereavement is the state of having suffered a
loss, while anticipatory grief occurs before the death, and disenfranchised grief is not socially
recognized.
2. The 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: A. Creating sustainable practice of self-care and balance
Explanation: When nurses struggle to cope with repeated losses, the priority intervention
focuses on self-care and work-life balance to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout. Working
additional shifts or volunteering on days off would increase stress and fatigue, while transferring
units does not address the underlying need for healthy coping mechanisms.
3. The nurse is caring for a client whose spouse of 52 years suddenly died. Which of the
following statements 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: C. "Your loved one was very special and will not be replaceable."
