Answer Choices:
a. Providing aggressive pain and symptom management
b. Helping the patient reassess and explore existing conflicts
c. Assisting the patient to focus on the meaning in life and death
d. Supporting the patient’s use of personal resources to meet challenges
Answer:
d. Supporting the patient’s use of personal resources to meet challenges
Question: An individual was killed during a store robbery 2 weeks ago. The widowed spouse, who was diagnosed 6 years ago with schizoaffective disorder, cries spontaneously when talking about the death. Which is the nurse’s most therapeutic comment?
Answer Choices:
a. “I’m worried about how much you’re crying. You grief over your spouse’s death has gone on too long.”
b. “The unexpected death of your spouse must be painful. I’m glad you’re able to talk to me about your feelings.”
c. “This loss is harder to accept because of your mental illness. Let’s refer you for a partial hospitalization program.”
d. “Your crying shows you aren’t coping well. I made an appointment for you to see the psychiatrist for medication adjustment.”
Answer:
b. “The unexpected death of your spouse must be painful. I’m glad you’re able to talk to me about your feelings.”
Question: After the death of his wife, a man tells the nurse, “I can’t live without her. She was my whole life.” Which is the nurse’s most therapeutic reply?
Answer Choices:
a. “Each day will get a little better.”
b. “Her death is a terrible loss for you.”
c. “Remember, she’s no longer suffering.”
d. “Your friends will help you cope with this.”
Answer:
b. “Her death is a terrible loss for you.”
Question: As death approaches, a patient diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) says, “I don’t want to see a lot of visitors anymore. Just my parents and my sibling can come in for a while each day.” What action should the nurse take?
Answer Choices:
a. Ask the patient to reconsider the decision because many interested and caring friends can be sources of support.
b. Discuss the request with the parents and sibling. Suggest that they explain the patient’s decision to friends.
c. Suggest that the patient discuss these wishes with the health care provider.
d. Place a “no visitors” sign on the patient’s door.
Answer:
b. Discuss the request with the parents and sibling. Suggest that they explain the patient’s decision to friends.
Question: A patient’s fiancé died in an automobile accident several days ago. The patient reports crying a lot and feeling bouts of guilt and anger. This behavior is most characteristic of which stage of grief?
Answer Choices:
a. Denial
b. Bargaining
c. Development of awareness
d. Preoccupation with the loss
Answer:
c. Development of awareness
Question: After the death of a spouse, an adult repeatedly says, “I should have made him go to the doctor when he said he didn’t feel well.” What response is this individual likely experiencing?
Answer Choices:
a. Preoccupation with the image of the deceased
b. Sensations of somatic distress
c. Anger
d. Guilt
Answer:
d. Guilt
Question: Children of a widowed parent confer with the nurse; their surviving parent repeatedly relates the details of finding the deceased parent not breathing, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, going to the hospital by ambulance, and seeing the pronouncement of death. The family asks, “What can we do?” How should the nurse best counsel the family?
Answer Choices:
a. Encouraging them to share their own feelings with the surviving parent and ask for the retelling to stop
b. Support the ideas that retelling the story should be limited to once daily to avoid unnecessary stimulation
c. Share with them that retelling memories is to be expected as part of the aging process
d. Reassure them that repeating the story is a helpful and a necessary part of grieving
Answer:
d. Reassure them that repeating the story is a helpful and a necessary part of grieving
Question: A widow grieving her husband’s sudden and unexpected death tells the nurse, “I’m not feeling well. Yesterday, I saw my husband walk through the door, stop, and smile at me. Then he just faded away.” Which is the nurse’s most appropriate action?
Answer Choices:
a. Assess for recent substance abuse.
b. Suggest a referral to the mental health clinic.
c. Arrange for an evaluation for antidepressant medication.
d. Counsel the widow that visualizations are a normal part of grieving.
Answer:
d. Counsel the widow that visualizations are a normal part of grieving
Question: The partner of a patient in hospice care tells the nurse, “The care provided by the aide and other family members is inadequate, so I must do everything myself. Can’t anyone do anything right?” How best should the palliative care nurse respond?
Answer Choices:
a. Providing teaching about anticipatory grieving
b. Assigning new personnel to the patient’s care
c. Arranging hospitalization for the patient
d. Refer the partner for crisis counseling
Answer:
a. Providing teaching about anticipatory grieving
Question: A person whose spouse died 2 years earlier tells friends, “I think I’m ready to start going out socially, maybe even take someone to dinner.” What does this comment best demonstrate about the individual’s state of mind?
Answer Choices:
a. Is denying the significance of the loss.
b. Is in a period of grief resolution.
c. Is actively working through grief.
d. Is experiencing intrusion.
Answer:
b. Is in a period of grief resolution.
Question: A patient newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer says, “My father also died of pancreatic cancer. I took care of him during his illness. I can’t go through that.” Select the highest priority nursing diagnosis.
Answer Choices:
a. Anticipatory grieving
b. Ineffective coping
c. Ineffective denial
d. Risk for suicide
Answer:
d. Risk for suicide
Question: What situation makes the mourning process more difficult for the bereaved?
Answer Choices:
a. They were relatively independent of the deceased.
b. They have experienced many previous losses.
c. They accept that death is expected for everyone.
d. They had resolved conflicts with the deceased.
Answer:
b. They have experienced many previous losses.
Question: A family of a terminally ill patient asks the nurse, “What can we say when our family member mentions death is coming soon?” Which response could the nurse suggest?
Answer Choices:
a. “We think you will be around for a long time.”
b. “We don’t want you to give up trying to get well.”
c. “We don’t think we’re ready to talk about this yet.”
d. “We feel so sad when we think of life without you.”
Answer:
d. “We feel so sad when we think of life without you.”
Question: A woman whose husband is terminally ill says, “I don’t want to cry in front of him. I don’t want him to know how soon death will occur or how sad I am.” Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
Answer Choices:
a. “I’m glad you are protecting him at a time when he is so vulnerable.”
b. “He might be more comforted than disturbed by your tears.”
c. “It’s important for you to know that time is running out.”
d. “You definitely need to be honest about your feelings.”
Answer:
b. “He might be more comforted than disturbed by your tears.”