Nokea
A child drowned while swimming in a local lake 4 years ago. Which behavior indicates that the parents are effectively coping with their loss?
- A. Prohibits their other children from going swimming.
- B. Sets a place for the deceased child at the family dinner table.
- C. Keeps their child's room exactly as the child left it 4 years ago.
- D. Throw flowers on the lake at each anniversary date of the accident.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The parents who throw flowers across the lake on each anniversary date of the accident are effectively using a ritual to express their feelings openly.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer says, 'I'm dying, but I'm still living. I want to be in control as long as I can.' Which reply shows the nurse was actively listening?
- A. Our staff will do their best to help you feel comfortable.'
- B. Most people do not know how to help and are afraid of death.'
- C. Although your body is frail, your mind and spirit are healthy.'
- D. You want people to stop focusing on your weaknesses.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is asking for acknowledgment that he or she is not totally sick; even in the terminal state, strengths and capabilities are present.
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?
- 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.'
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotional honesty is important to both the patient and the family. The patient may be comforted to know that the family is facing the inevitable.
A nurse talks with a person whose spouse died suddenly while jogging. Which is the appropriate statement for the nurse?
- A. At least your spouse did not suffer.'
- B. It's better to go quickly as your spouse did.'
- C. The loss of your spouse must be very painful for you.'
- D. You'll begin to feel better after you get over the shock.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most helpful responses by others validate the bereaved person's experience of loss. Avoid banalities; they increase the individual's sense of isolation.
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?
- 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
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Nurses are encouraged to tell bereaved patients that telling the personal story of loss as many times as needed is acceptable and healthy.
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?
- 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.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Grieving patients often dream about, visualize, think about, or search for the lost loved one. This is considered a normal phenomenon.