VNSG 1400 LOSS, GRIEF, AND DYING
Exam and All Correct Answers.
The nurse is providing care for an adult patient in the end stages of a terminal disease. The
patient is the parent of minor children. The patient's spouse states, "The children don't know
how bad things are. I don't want them to worry." Which advice from the nurse is best?
The children have already detected that something is wrong.
Details should be based on each child's developmental stage and ability to understand.
Children should be protected from the unpleasant experience of death.
Expect children to act out and possibly regress in their behavior. - Answer Details should be
based on each child's developmental stage and ability to understand.
The nurse is providing care for a patient diagnosed with advanced metastatic cancer. After the
patient has a discussion with the health-care provider, a do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR)
order is written. Later, the nurse finds the patient unresponsive with no pulse and not
breathing. A family member shouts, "Do something. Save him." Which action should the nurse
take?
1 Gently explain to the family member that the patient's wishes are for a quiet death.
2 Notify the health-care provider that a family member is likely to need an explanation.
3 Start life-saving efforts on the patient based on the family member's direction.
4 Tell the family member that the patient made legal plans for no heroic life-saving measures. -
Answer 4 Tell the family member that the patient made legal plans for no heroic life-saving
measures.
The nurse is providing care for a patient who just received a diagnosis of a serious, aggressive
disease. The patient states, "I know that time is short and I will decline quickly. How will I ever
keep control of my medical care?" Which suggestion by the nurse is correct?
1 "You need to talk with your family and make sure they understand your wishes."
2 "If you have a will, your health-care wishes can be put in there."
3 "You can ask someone you trust to follow your wishes to be your health-care proxy."
4 "It may be best to appoint your lawyer to act as your durable power of attorney." - Answer 3
"You can ask someone you trust to follow your wishes to be your health-care proxy."
The nurse is providing care for a patient with a terminal illness. The nurse frequently notices
nonverbal signs indicating that the patient is experiencing pain. Which interaction will be helpful
, 4 Explain that experiencing unnecessary pain is worse than overcoming addiction. - Answer 3
Help the patient to understand that there is no benefit to suffering with pain.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a terminal illness at the end stage of life. The nurse notices
that the patient is experiencing skin breakdown on various areas of the body. Which nursing
interventions are appropriate for this patient? Select all that apply.
1 Perform passive range of motion to improve circulation.
2 Promote healing by increasing protein and vitamin C intake.
3 Change the focus of wound care from healing to comfort.
4 Assist the health-care provider during the debridement process.
5 Keep the area clean and allow the wound to dry. - Answer 3 Change the focus of wound care
from healing to comfort.
5 Keep the area clean and allow the wound to dry.
The nurse is caring for a patient who asks how a do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) order is
put in place. Which information does the nurse relay to the patient? Select all that apply.
1 The order can be written by the health-care provider based on the clinical situation.
2 The patient's spouse can sign the order.
3 The patient's attorney can sign the order.
4 The patient's health-care proxy can sign the order if the patient is unable to do so.
5 The patient can sign the order. - Answer 1 The order can be written by the health-care
provider based on the clinical situation.
4 The patient's health-care proxy can sign the order if the patient is unable to do so.
5 The patient can sign the order.
The nurse is providing care for a patient immediately after the patient learned about a terminal
illness. The patient states, "I don't believe this. I cannot possibly be dying so soon." Which stage
does the nurse recognize when considering the traditional stages of death and dying?
1 The patient is expressing anger over the diagnosis.
2 The patient is voicing acceptance about the illness.
3 The patient will begin the bargaining process soon.
4 The patient is in the stage of denial and disbelief. - Answer 4 The patient is in the stage of
Exam and All Correct Answers.
The nurse is providing care for an adult patient in the end stages of a terminal disease. The
patient is the parent of minor children. The patient's spouse states, "The children don't know
how bad things are. I don't want them to worry." Which advice from the nurse is best?
The children have already detected that something is wrong.
Details should be based on each child's developmental stage and ability to understand.
Children should be protected from the unpleasant experience of death.
Expect children to act out and possibly regress in their behavior. - Answer Details should be
based on each child's developmental stage and ability to understand.
The nurse is providing care for a patient diagnosed with advanced metastatic cancer. After the
patient has a discussion with the health-care provider, a do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR)
order is written. Later, the nurse finds the patient unresponsive with no pulse and not
breathing. A family member shouts, "Do something. Save him." Which action should the nurse
take?
1 Gently explain to the family member that the patient's wishes are for a quiet death.
2 Notify the health-care provider that a family member is likely to need an explanation.
3 Start life-saving efforts on the patient based on the family member's direction.
4 Tell the family member that the patient made legal plans for no heroic life-saving measures. -
Answer 4 Tell the family member that the patient made legal plans for no heroic life-saving
measures.
The nurse is providing care for a patient who just received a diagnosis of a serious, aggressive
disease. The patient states, "I know that time is short and I will decline quickly. How will I ever
keep control of my medical care?" Which suggestion by the nurse is correct?
1 "You need to talk with your family and make sure they understand your wishes."
2 "If you have a will, your health-care wishes can be put in there."
3 "You can ask someone you trust to follow your wishes to be your health-care proxy."
4 "It may be best to appoint your lawyer to act as your durable power of attorney." - Answer 3
"You can ask someone you trust to follow your wishes to be your health-care proxy."
The nurse is providing care for a patient with a terminal illness. The nurse frequently notices
nonverbal signs indicating that the patient is experiencing pain. Which interaction will be helpful
, 4 Explain that experiencing unnecessary pain is worse than overcoming addiction. - Answer 3
Help the patient to understand that there is no benefit to suffering with pain.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a terminal illness at the end stage of life. The nurse notices
that the patient is experiencing skin breakdown on various areas of the body. Which nursing
interventions are appropriate for this patient? Select all that apply.
1 Perform passive range of motion to improve circulation.
2 Promote healing by increasing protein and vitamin C intake.
3 Change the focus of wound care from healing to comfort.
4 Assist the health-care provider during the debridement process.
5 Keep the area clean and allow the wound to dry. - Answer 3 Change the focus of wound care
from healing to comfort.
5 Keep the area clean and allow the wound to dry.
The nurse is caring for a patient who asks how a do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) order is
put in place. Which information does the nurse relay to the patient? Select all that apply.
1 The order can be written by the health-care provider based on the clinical situation.
2 The patient's spouse can sign the order.
3 The patient's attorney can sign the order.
4 The patient's health-care proxy can sign the order if the patient is unable to do so.
5 The patient can sign the order. - Answer 1 The order can be written by the health-care
provider based on the clinical situation.
4 The patient's health-care proxy can sign the order if the patient is unable to do so.
5 The patient can sign the order.
The nurse is providing care for a patient immediately after the patient learned about a terminal
illness. The patient states, "I don't believe this. I cannot possibly be dying so soon." Which stage
does the nurse recognize when considering the traditional stages of death and dying?
1 The patient is expressing anger over the diagnosis.
2 The patient is voicing acceptance about the illness.
3 The patient will begin the bargaining process soon.
4 The patient is in the stage of denial and disbelief. - Answer 4 The patient is in the stage of
