NSG 3130 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE 2026
Why is grief a difficult topic for patients and nurses to discuss? - Answers It is
emotional and subjective; there is no single 'right' way to grieve; nurses must avoid
judgment; influenced by culture, relationships, life stage, and coping styles.
Why is self-awareness important when caring for grieving patients or families? -
Answers Helps maintain professional presence, prevents projecting personal
emotions, encourages empathetic communication.
What is anticipatory grieving and when does it occur? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers Denial, Anger,
Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance; stages are not sequential.
What characterizes the denial stage of grief? - Answers 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? -
Answers Patients may express anger verbally or physically; nurses should stay calm,
ensure safety, and offer coping strategies.
What behaviors occur during the bargaining stage? - Answers 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? -
Answers Patient acknowledges reality of death; nurses should avoid false reassurance
and offer presence and empathy.
, What characterizes the acceptance stage of grief? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers Being fully
attentive and emotionally available; communicating empathy without words.
What is the overall goal for nurses during grief and loss care? - Answers Provide
nonjudgmental, compassionate care; maintain dignity and comfort; support both
physical and emotional needs.
What is the difference between grief, loss, and bereavement? - Answers 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? - Answers Actual loss, Perceived loss,
Anticipatory loss, Situational loss.
What are the types of grief? - Answers Normal, anticipatory, disenfranchised,
complicated.
What is dysfunctional grief? - Answers Grief that lasts longer than expected and
disrupts functioning.
What are signs of dysfunctional grief? - Answers Intense yearning or anger, denial of
death, inability to perform daily activities, substance use or depression.
What are the types of dysfunctional grief? - Answers Chronic, delayed, exaggerated,
masked.
What factors affect the grieving process? - Answers Developmental stage,
significance of loss, culture and spirituality, socioeconomic status, support systems,
cause of death.
What should be included in a nurse's assessment of grief and loss? - Answers
Meaning of loss, coping style, physical symptoms, emotional state, spiritual beliefs,
grieving stage.
What are common nursing diagnoses related to grief and loss? - Answers Grieving,
complicated grieving, risk for loneliness, spiritual distress, hopelessness,
powerlessness, readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being.
UPDATE 2026
Why is grief a difficult topic for patients and nurses to discuss? - Answers It is
emotional and subjective; there is no single 'right' way to grieve; nurses must avoid
judgment; influenced by culture, relationships, life stage, and coping styles.
Why is self-awareness important when caring for grieving patients or families? -
Answers Helps maintain professional presence, prevents projecting personal
emotions, encourages empathetic communication.
What is anticipatory grieving and when does it occur? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers Denial, Anger,
Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance; stages are not sequential.
What characterizes the denial stage of grief? - Answers 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? -
Answers Patients may express anger verbally or physically; nurses should stay calm,
ensure safety, and offer coping strategies.
What behaviors occur during the bargaining stage? - Answers 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? -
Answers Patient acknowledges reality of death; nurses should avoid false reassurance
and offer presence and empathy.
, What characterizes the acceptance stage of grief? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers Being fully
attentive and emotionally available; communicating empathy without words.
What is the overall goal for nurses during grief and loss care? - Answers Provide
nonjudgmental, compassionate care; maintain dignity and comfort; support both
physical and emotional needs.
What is the difference between grief, loss, and bereavement? - Answers 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? - Answers Actual loss, Perceived loss,
Anticipatory loss, Situational loss.
What are the types of grief? - Answers Normal, anticipatory, disenfranchised,
complicated.
What is dysfunctional grief? - Answers Grief that lasts longer than expected and
disrupts functioning.
What are signs of dysfunctional grief? - Answers Intense yearning or anger, denial of
death, inability to perform daily activities, substance use or depression.
What are the types of dysfunctional grief? - Answers Chronic, delayed, exaggerated,
masked.
What factors affect the grieving process? - Answers Developmental stage,
significance of loss, culture and spirituality, socioeconomic status, support systems,
cause of death.
What should be included in a nurse's assessment of grief and loss? - Answers
Meaning of loss, coping style, physical symptoms, emotional state, spiritual beliefs,
grieving stage.
What are common nursing diagnoses related to grief and loss? - Answers Grieving,
complicated grieving, risk for loneliness, spiritual distress, hopelessness,
powerlessness, readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being.
