Grief, Dying & Death

Mrs. Valentine was informed by her doctor that she has a terminal illness and has six months to live. When she returns home, he son asks about the doctor’s visit. She tells her son that she is as fit as a fiddle. This patient is in:

• denial

• depression

• bargaining

• anger

Mr. Vic Tim, who is terminally ill, is working hard to complete unfinished business. Which stage of the grieving process is he in?

• Disbelief

• Bargaining

• denial

• acceptance

A DNR order means that

• No one should ever disturb the patient for any reason

• The patient should have food and fluid withheld

• CPR should not be begun if the patient goes into cardiac or respiratory arrest.

• The patient should be put on the organ donor list

An advance directive should be signed when

• the family agrees to it

• the death rattle is heard

• the family attorney arrives

• the patient is still in good health

A dying patient says that she does not believe in God or heaven. You totally disagree. You should

• ask the chaplain to see the patient

• ask your own pastor to visit

• respect her beliefs

• try to show her where she is wrong

Hospice care works on the principle that

• death could be sped up to shorten pain and suffering

• any measures to keep the patient alive longer should be tried

• death is a natural process and should be made as comfortable as possible

• food and fluids should be stopped because the patient no longer needs them

You are caring for

a dying patient and should know that

• patients become unconscious at the end

• hearing is the last sense to go

• the pupils will constrict

• patients stop feeling every kind of pain

Postmortem care is

usually done by the

• family

• Doctor

• Nursing assistant

• nurse

After the patient

dies, it is common for the body to

• develop rigor mortis immediately

• urinate and/or defecate

• get cold immediately

• have constricted pupils

When caring for a body after death, you should

• forget about privacy measures

• not worry about infection control measures like gloves

• treat the body with respect

• remove clothing and wrap the body with a sheet and wait for the funeral director