Chapter 25 Loss, Death, and Palliative Care

Chapter 25  Loss, Death, and Palliative Care

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which of the following statements is true about loss in older adulthood?
a.
A person experiences each stage of grief once, and then grieving is resolved.
b.
Antianxiety agents are frequently recommended for reducing the pain of grief.
c.
The loss response model is concerned with the effect of loss on an individual.
d.
Referring to the deceased in the past tense can acknowledge the death’s reality.

ANS: D
The widow may say, for example, that her husband “just loved to garden” rather than “just loves to garden.”
Although the bereaved person passes through the stages according to the Bowlby model, the person may experience the cycle more than once as different aspects of the loss are encountered. Such medications do not reduce the pain of grief; they only deaden it for a time. The loss response model considers the effect of the loss on the family as a system.

PTS: 1 DIF: Understand REF: 2-7
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Psychosocial Integrity

2. The health care provider believes an older woman has approximately 6 weeks to live. After 2 months, the family remains at the bedside but, in the last few days, are becoming increasingly impatient and irritable. This pattern is least indicative of which of the following statements?
a.
Family is experiencing anticipatory grief for the older adult.
b.
Family desires that the patient be relieved of her misery.
c.
Anticipatory grieving can fail to attenuate acute grief upon death.
d.
Grievers deal more easily with known losses at known times.

ANS: B
The family is not impatient because they want her death to take place and want her to be relieved of her misery; they are impatient because of the emotional fluctuations of waiting. The remaining three statements are true.

PTS: 1 DIF: Apply REF: 5-6
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Psychosocial Integrity

3. After the older adult dies, the brother who has a history of alcohol abuse upsets the family by going on a drinking binge instead of attending the funeral. Which of the following is the best description of the brother’s behavior?
a.
Personality disorder
c.
Disenfranchised grief
b.
Disrespectful attitude
d.
Chronic grief

ANS: C
When a family is in discord, a grieving member can be unable to or consider him or herself permitted to express grief by socially acceptable means. The brother’s behavior is most likely a grief reaction, although it could be indicative of a personality disorder. The brother can feel that the most respectful thing he can do for the family members is to stay out of their way. The brother has suffered an acute loss.

PTS: 1 DIF: Apply REF: 8-9
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Psychosocial Integrity

4. Which of the following interventions is recommended for an older adult in the final stages of dying?
a.
Apply an electric blanket to keep the patient warm.
b.
Lower the head of the bed, and turn the head to the side.
c.
Decrease the number of visitors.
d.
Support the preservation of energy.

ANS: D
Conserving energy should be a focus in the care of a patient in the final stage of dying. Completing only the necessary activities of daily living (ADLs) would be an example.
An electric blanket should not be used; it can increase the patient’s distress by overheating. Elevating the head of the bed and turning the patient’s head to the side is a recommended intervention to help clear uncomfortable respiratory congestion. Nurses should not withhold visitors; the patient needs to have closure, as well as the family.

PTS: 1 DIF: Understand REF: 17-20
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Psychosocial Integrity