Nokea
At which age do most children have an adult concept of death as being inevitable, universal, and irreversible?
- A. 4 to 5 years
- B. 6 to 8 years
- C. 9 to 11 years
- D. 12 to 16 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: By ages 9 to 11, children develop an adult-like understanding of death as inevitable, universal, and irreversible. Younger children have less mature concepts, and adolescents have a fully mature understanding.
You may also like to solve these questions
When is an autopsy required?
- A. In the case of a suspected suicide
- B. When a person has a known terminal illness
- C. With a hospice patient who dies at home
- D. With the victim of a motor vehicle collision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: An autopsy is required in cases of suspected suicide, unexplained, or violent deaths to determine the cause. It is optional for terminal illnesses, hospice deaths, or motor vehicle collisions unless the cause is unclear, and family consent may be sought.
The family and child have decided that hospice care best meets their needs during the terminal phase of illness. The nurse recognizes that the parents understand the principles of this care when they make which statement?
- A. It will be good to be at home and care for our child.
- B. What a relief it will be not to need any more medicines.
- C. We are going to miss the support of the hospice team when our child dies.
- D. We know that once hospice care starts, we will not be able to return to the hospital if the care is difficult.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hospice care emphasizes family as primary caregivers supported by professionals, aligning with the statement about caring at home. Medications continue for symptom management, hospice support extends post-death, and hospital readmission is possible if needed.
A preschooler is found digging up a pet bird that was recently buried after it died. What is the best explanation for this behavior?
- A. He has a morbid preoccupation with death.
- B. He is looking to see if a ghost took it away.
- C. He needs reassurance that the pet has not gone somewhere else.
- D. The loss is not yet resolved, and professional counseling is needed.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Preschoolers struggle with the permanence of death and may dig up the pet to confirm its presence, a normal developmental response. This is not a morbid preoccupation, not about ghosts, and does not immediately indicate a need for counseling unless persistent.
An 8-year-old girl has been uncooperative and angry since the diagnosis of cancer was made. Her parents tell the nurse that they do not know what to do because she is always so mad at us. What nursing action is most appropriate at this time?
- A. Explain to child that anger is not helpful.
- B. Help the parents deal with her anger constructively.
- C. Ask the parents to find out what she is angry about.
- D. Encourage the parents to ignore the anger at this time.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Helping parents manage the child?s anger constructively addresses her loss of control and promotes communication and coping. Explaining anger is unhelpful, finding the cause may be difficult for the child, and ignoring anger dismisses her emotional needs.
At which developmental period do children have the most difficulty coping with death, particularly if it is their own?
- A. Toddlerhood
- B. Preschool
- C. School age
- D. Adolescence
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Adolescents, with their mature understanding of death, struggle most with their own mortality due to guilt, shame, and identity challenges. Toddlers fear separation, preschoolers feel guilt, and school-age children fear the unknown, but these are less intense than adolescent struggles.