Question 1

A man who recently lost his spouse states, 'I just can't cry for my wife.' What is the husband at risk of developing?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

Which of the following may be a consideration with regard to death and dying in Indigenous Australian culture?

Accepted Answer

Indigenous people often need sufficient space to gather together to facilitate grieving and bereavement.

Question 3

A person tells the nurse, 'My husband left me to be with God.' What is this person demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

The spouse of a deceased woman tells the nurse that he has joined a support group to help cope with the loss of his wife. This person is in which phase of Engel's grief process?

Accepted Answer

Engel's grief process includes a phase called "restitution," which involves coping mechanisms such as joining support groups to deal with the loss. This phase is characterized by the rituals surrounding loss, including social supports and ways of expressing grief.

Question 5

The family of a dying person states, 'She must be in pain because all she does is moan.' The statement reflects the family is doing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Moaning in a dying person can be a sign of agitation rather than pain. The family's interpretation of moaning as pain indicates a misunderstanding of this behavior.

Question 6

A recently widowed woman states, 'I wanted to ask him for a divorce and then he died.' This person is at risk of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The widow's statement indicates that she was contemplating getting a divorce before her husband's death. This suggests a possibility of a dysfunctional grief reaction, in which the person may struggle with conflicting emotions and unresolved issues related to the deceased individual. The desire for a divorce may indicate unresolved relational issues that could complicate the grieving process.

Question 7

A person who had a below-the-knee amputation two months ago is seen walking with a new limb prosthesis and returning to work. Which describes this person's emotional state? The person:

Accepted Answer

The person's ability to return to work and walk with a new prosthetic limb indicates that they have adjusted to the loss of their limb, which is a part of the process of mourning. It is likely that they have gone through the grief stages and worked through the emotional aspects of the amputation, including acceptance and adaptation.

Question 8

The youngest child of a person who died continues to receive communication and telephone calls from the hospice organisation during the six months after the death. What is the hospice providing?

Accepted Answer

Hospice organizations usually provide bereavement care to family members for six months to a year after the death of their loved one. This includes routine follow-up calls to check on the well-being of family members and offer support, resources, and counseling. The communication and telephone calls that the youngest child is receiving from the hospice organization are most likely part of their bereavement care services.

Question 9

A nurse who provided care for a terminally ill person does not want to spend any time with the grieving family and begins to provide care for another person. What is this nurse demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Blunting is a defense mechanism in which a person suppresses their emotions in order to cope with a difficult situation. In this case, the nurse is using blunting to avoid dealing with the grief of the family.

Question 10

A woman states, 'My husband is the person you should talk with if I am not able to make decisions about my care.' The husband has been identified as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A woman states, 'My husband is the...

Question 11

A preoperative person says to the nurse, 'I hope I wake up after surgery; I don't know what my family would do if I died.' This person is demonstrating which nursing diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The person is expressing fear and concern about the possibility of dying, which indicates anticipatory grieving. This nursing diagnosis refers to the emotional response of individuals and their families to an impending loss, such as death, and the process of preparing for and adapting to it. The person's statement reflects their awareness of the risks involved in the surgery and their worry about the impact it would have on their family if they didn't make it through. As a nurse, it is important to acknowledge and address the person's concerns, provide emotional support, and help them and their family cope with the situation.

Question 12

A woman who has just lost her husband asks the nurse how long it will be until she feels like living again. The nurse realises this woman has to work through which of the phases of the grieving process according to Bowlby? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

The answer of A woman who has just lost her...

Question 13

A nurse is having difficulty with the spouse of a dying person. The reason for the difficulty is later found to be the fact that the nurse's spouse died two years ago. Which of the following would best help this person, the spouse and the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The nurse's personal experience and emotions may be impacting their ability to provide the best care for the dying person and their spouse. Reassigning the nurse to care for another individual would be the best option to ensure that both the nurse and the dying individual receive the appropriate care they need. It is important to address the nurse's personal needs and provide them with the necessary resources rather than expecting them to push through and potentially compromise patient care.

Question 14

A person tells the nurse, 'I dread going on after the divorce is final. I have no idea how I am going to manage financially or emotionally.' The nurse realises this person is demonstrating which aspect of Caplan's stress and loss theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person tells the nurse, 'I dread...

Question 15

The brother of a terminally ill person states, 'I'll donate money to the hospital that cures my brother.' The nurse realises this statement is indicative of which phase of Kubler-Ross's stages of grief?

Accepted Answer

The statement "I'll donate money to the hospital that cures my brother" is an example of bargaining. This is because the individual is trying to make a deal, or bargain, with a higher power or authority to try and prevent their grief or loss from happening. This is the third stage in Kubler-Ross's stages of grief.

Question 16

A recently widowed woman is seen wearing dark clothing and dark glasses and carrying her late husband's coffee cup. What is this woman demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

The woman is demonstrating a normal response to a loss. Wearing dark clothing and dark glasses is a common cultural expression of mourning, and carrying her late husband's coffee cup may be a way of keeping a connection to her deceased spouse.

Question 17

A nurse has accepted a change in employment and is found crying. What is this nurse demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is demonstrating grief, which is a normal response to a major life change such as a new job. The nurse may be feeling sadness, loss, or a sense of letting go of their current position and routine. It is important for the nurse to be supported during this transition and given time to process their emotions.

Question 18

The family of a dying person experiencing a worsening of breathing wants to help. Which of the following can the nurse instruct the family to provide for the person?

Accepted Answer

Raising the head of the bed can help improve breathing and is a common intervention used to manage dyspnea in patients. Suctioning and chest physiotherapy may be appropriate interventions in certain situations, but should only be performed under the guidance of a healthcare provider. Placing the person's head on one pillow may not provide enough elevation to improve breathing.

Question 19

A dying person tells the nurse, 'Don't let my family leave me.' What is this person demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

The person is expressing a fear of dying alone and wanting the comfort of their family's presence.

Question 20

Which of the following relates to Freud's theory of loss and grief?

Accepted Answer

Freud's theory of mourning and melancholia suggests that the inability to properly grieve a loss can lead to melancholia, which is closely related to what we now consider depression. This theory emphasizes the psychological process of dealing with a significant loss and the potential consequences of failing to adequately work through this process.

Quiz 4: Nursing Care of People Experiencing Loss, Grief, and Death