Question 1

A 45-year-old woman loses her job due to company downsizing. She feels a deep sense of loss, but her friends do not understand why she is so affected. According to the types of loss, what is she experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Perceived loss

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the difference between grief and mourning?

Accepted Answer

Grief is the internal emotional reaction to loss, while mourning is the outward expression of grief.

Question 3

A nurse observes a patient who is terminally ill refusing to accept their diagnosis and insisting that the tests are wrong. According to Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief, which stage is the patient most likely experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Denial and isolation

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a clinical sign of impending death?

Accepted Answer

Increasing blood pressure

Question 5

A patient with a terminal illness requests only comfort measures and no life-sustaining interventions. Which special order would best reflect this patient’s wishes?

Accepted Answer

Comfort measures only

Question 6

According to the Uniform Definition of Death Act, which of the following criteria must be met to declare a person legally dead?

Accepted Answer

Irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem

Question 7

A nurse is caring for a dying patient who expresses fear of being alone and leaving unfinished business. Which category of needs is the nurse addressing by providing emotional support and facilitating communication with loved ones?

Accepted Answer

Psychological needs

Question 8

Which of the following statements about advance directives is correct?

Accepted Answer

A durable power of attorney allows a trusted person to make healthcare decisions if the patient is incapacitated.

Question 9

A nurse is preparing a body for postmortem care. Which of the following actions is appropriate if an autopsy is NOT scheduled?

Accepted Answer

Remove all tubes and replace dressings

Question 10

A patient’s family is struggling to accept the loss and continues to act as if the deceased is still alive months after the death. This is an example of which type of grief?

Accepted Answer

Dysfunctional grief

Question 11

A nurse is supporting a patient who is terminally ill and wishes to stop all food and fluid intake as a means to hasten death. Which term best describes this patient’s decision?

Accepted Answer

Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED)

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the focus of palliative care?

Accepted Answer

Aggressively treating symptoms to improve quality of life

Question 13

A nurse is teaching a family about the dying process. Which of the following is a common misconception about grief?

Accepted Answer

Everyone experiences grief in the same way and order.

Question 14

A patient is in the bargaining stage of Kübler-Ross’s model. Which statement is most likely to reflect this stage?

Accepted Answer

"If I can just live to see my daughter get married, I’ll be ready."

Question 15

A nurse is caring for a patient who is dying and requests that no extraordinary measures be taken to prolong life. Which order should the nurse expect to see in the patient’s chart?

Accepted Answer

Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order

Question 16

Which of the following is a key principle in providing care to facilitate a good death?

Accepted Answer

Guiding care by the values and preferences of the individual patient

Question 17

A nurse is supporting a family after the sudden death of a loved one. Which action is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Provide a private place for the family to begin grieving

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a maturational loss?

Accepted Answer

A child leaving home for college

Question 19

A nurse is caring for a patient who is dying and observes the following: cold, clammy skin, weak pulse, and Cheyne-Stokes respirations. What should the nurse recognize?

Accepted Answer

The patient is experiencing clinical signs of impending death.

Question 20

A nurse is developing a trusting relationship with a dying patient. Which of the following actions is most important?

Accepted Answer

Explaining the patient’s condition and treatment honestly

Loss, Grief, and Dying: Personal Health Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards