Chapter 25: Loss, Grief, Dying, and Death
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the final stage of human growth and development?
a. Integrity
b. Death
c. Despair
d. Resolution
ANS: B
Death is the final stage of growth and development.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 734 OBJ: 3
TOP: Death KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
2. A young nurse caring for a dying patient hastens through the care and leaves the room as
quickly as possible. What common reaction to the care of the dying is the nurse exhibiting?
a. Efficiency
b. Anger
c. Withdrawal
d. Anxiety
ANS: C
Withdrawal is a common reaction to the care of the dying.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: 5
TOP: Withdrawal KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
3. Changes in health care reimbursement measures have resulted in which of the following
changes regarding care of the terminally ill?
a. Patients spend more time in hospitals.
b. Nurses provide more care in hospitals.
c. More patients die at home.
d. Patients spend more time in rehab facilities.
ANS: C
Due to changes in reimbursement measures, more patients are dying at home.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 755 OBJ: 2
TOP: Death KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
4. How does a perceived loss differ from an actual loss?
a. A perceived loss is more quickly resolved.
b. A perceived loss is situational.
c. A perceived loss is easily overlooked.
d. A perceived loss has a superficial response.
, ANS: C
Perceived losses are easily overlooked.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: 1
TOP: Loss KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Upon being told of her father’s death, the daughter cries out, “No! Oh, God, no!” What stage
of grief is the daughter in?
a. Anger
b. Bargaining
c. Denial
d. Prayer
ANS: C
The daughter is exhibiting signs of denial, which is commonly one of the first stages of grief.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 737 OBJ: 4
TOP: Grief KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
6. What should the nurse do before approaching a grieving family member?
a. Offer sympathy
b. Assess level of resolution
c. Give assurance that the pain will pass
d. Encourage the family member to return to normal activities
ANS: B
The nurse should assess each aspect of grieving to fully understand where family members are
in their grief in order to offer the most effective assistance.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 757 OBJ: 6
TOP: Grief KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
7. A dying patient uses the call light frequently to ask the nurse to do simple tasks. The nurse
recognizes this as a fear of:
a. increased pain.
b. failure.
c. abandonment.
d. isolation.
ANS: C
A major fear of the dying patient is fear of abandonment.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 753 OBJ: 10
TOP: Death KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
8. What is the first thing the nurse should do before involving the family in the care of a dying
patient?
a. Ask the patient if he or she wants family care.
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the final stage of human growth and development?
a. Integrity
b. Death
c. Despair
d. Resolution
ANS: B
Death is the final stage of growth and development.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 734 OBJ: 3
TOP: Death KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
2. A young nurse caring for a dying patient hastens through the care and leaves the room as
quickly as possible. What common reaction to the care of the dying is the nurse exhibiting?
a. Efficiency
b. Anger
c. Withdrawal
d. Anxiety
ANS: C
Withdrawal is a common reaction to the care of the dying.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: 5
TOP: Withdrawal KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
3. Changes in health care reimbursement measures have resulted in which of the following
changes regarding care of the terminally ill?
a. Patients spend more time in hospitals.
b. Nurses provide more care in hospitals.
c. More patients die at home.
d. Patients spend more time in rehab facilities.
ANS: C
Due to changes in reimbursement measures, more patients are dying at home.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 755 OBJ: 2
TOP: Death KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
4. How does a perceived loss differ from an actual loss?
a. A perceived loss is more quickly resolved.
b. A perceived loss is situational.
c. A perceived loss is easily overlooked.
d. A perceived loss has a superficial response.
, ANS: C
Perceived losses are easily overlooked.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: 1
TOP: Loss KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Upon being told of her father’s death, the daughter cries out, “No! Oh, God, no!” What stage
of grief is the daughter in?
a. Anger
b. Bargaining
c. Denial
d. Prayer
ANS: C
The daughter is exhibiting signs of denial, which is commonly one of the first stages of grief.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 737 OBJ: 4
TOP: Grief KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
6. What should the nurse do before approaching a grieving family member?
a. Offer sympathy
b. Assess level of resolution
c. Give assurance that the pain will pass
d. Encourage the family member to return to normal activities
ANS: B
The nurse should assess each aspect of grieving to fully understand where family members are
in their grief in order to offer the most effective assistance.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 757 OBJ: 6
TOP: Grief KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
7. A dying patient uses the call light frequently to ask the nurse to do simple tasks. The nurse
recognizes this as a fear of:
a. increased pain.
b. failure.
c. abandonment.
d. isolation.
ANS: C
A major fear of the dying patient is fear of abandonment.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 753 OBJ: 10
TOP: Death KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
8. What is the first thing the nurse should do before involving the family in the care of a dying
patient?
a. Ask the patient if he or she wants family care.
