Module 27 Grief and Loss

Module 27   Grief and Loss

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

The Concept of Grief and Loss

 

1) A client is complaining of frequent headaches, chest tightness, palpitations, and menstrual irregularities. The client also reports having lost weight and she is experiencing difficulty eating and sleeping. The nurse notes that the client is tearful, sad, and lacks energy. Which question should the nurse ask this client to explore the source of these symptoms?

1. A) “Can you tell me why you are so sad?”
2. B) “Have you experienced a loss of a loved one recently?”
3. C) “How long have you been grieving?”
4. D) “Why are you crying so much?”

Answer:  B

Explanation:  A) The client is exhibiting the classic signs of grief and possibly unresolved grief, which affects the physical health of the client. Asking the client why she is sad does encourage her to express her feelings, but in this case the nurse needs to know the type of grief the client is experiencing and how long the client has been in this state in order to plan appropriate care. Asking the client why she is crying is a challenge, as is asking the client how long she has been grieving. The nurse should be supportive and nonjudgmental.

1. B) The client is exhibiting the classic signs of grief and possibly unresolved grief, which affects the physical health of the client. Asking the client why she is sad does encourage her to express her feelings, but in this case the nurse needs to know the type of grief the client is experiencing and how long the client has been in this state in order to plan appropriate care. Asking the client why she is crying is a challenge, as is asking the client how long she has been grieving. The nurse should be supportive and nonjudgmental.
2. C) The client is exhibiting the classic signs of grief and possibly unresolved grief, which affects the physical health of the client. Asking the client why she is sad does encourage her to express her feelings, but in this case the nurse needs to know the type of grief the client is experiencing and how long the client has been in this state in order to plan appropriate care. Asking the client why she is crying is a challenge, as is asking the client how long she has been grieving. The nurse should be supportive and nonjudgmental.
3. D) The client is exhibiting the classic signs of grief and possibly unresolved grief, which affects the physical health of the client. Asking the client why she is sad does encourage her to express her feelings, but in this case the nurse needs to know the type of grief the client is experiencing and how long the client has been in this state in order to plan appropriate care. Asking the client why she is crying is a challenge, as is asking the client how long she has been grieving. The nurse should be supportive and nonjudgmental.

Page Ref: 1742

Cognitive Level:  Applying

Client Need:  Psychosocial Integrity

Nursing Process:  Assessment

Learning Outcome:  1. Summarize the physiology of grief and loss.

 

2) The nurse is caring for a male client who has just died of AIDS. The client’s partner, also male, is still in the room and is dry-eyed and exhibiting somber behavior. The nurse offers condolences to the partner, realizing that the partner expects what to occur?

1. A) The client’s family will want to grieve with him.
2. B) The partner will want support from those around him on the unit.
3. C) The community will not allow the partner to grieve openly.
4. D) The boss at work will be supportive of bereavement leave.

Answer:  C

Explanation:  A) The nurse realizes that the client’s partner may be a victim of disenfranchised grief and expects that no one will acknowledge that the partner is grieving or offer support. The nurse extends condolences appropriately. The expectation of the gay partner is that the community, the partner’s family, and the workplace will all ignore the validity of his grief.

1. B) The nurse realizes that the client’s partner may be a victim of disenfranchised grief and expects that no one will acknowledge that the partner is grieving or offer support. The nurse extends condolences appropriately. The expectation of the gay partner is that the community, the partner’s family, and the workplace will all ignore the validity of his grief.
2. C) The nurse realizes that the client’s partner may be a victim of disenfranchised grief and expects that no one will acknowledge that the partner is grieving or offer support. The nurse extends condolences appropriately. The expectation of the gay partner is that the community, the partner’s family, and the workplace will all ignore the validity of his grief.
3. D) The nurse realizes that the client’s partner may be a victim of disenfranchised grief and expects that no one will acknowledge that the partner is grieving or offer support. The nurse extends condolences appropriately. The expectation of the gay partner is that the community, the partner’s family, and the workplace will all ignore the validity of his grief.

Page Ref: 1742

Cognitive Level:  Analyzing

Client Need:  Psychosocial Integrity

Nursing Process:  Implementation

Learning Outcome:  2. Examine the relationship between grief and other concepts/systems.

 

3) A hospice nurse is critically evaluating various models of grief used for terminally ill clients and their families. What should the nurse recognize when applying these models to individual client cases?

1. A) No clear timetables exist, nor are there clear-cut stages of grief.
2. B) There is strong research proving that these models are not useful for many dying clients.
3. C) The models serve as clear and definitive predictors of grief behaviors.
4. D) The Kübler-Ross model is primarily used to describe anticipatory grief.

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Although the models of grief are useful in guiding the nursing care of clients who are experiencing loss, there are no clear-cut stages of grief, nor are there exact timetables. Kübler-Ross describes all stages of grief and grieving. None of the models clearly or definitively predict grief behaviors. No research exists that proves these models are not useful.

1. B) Although the models of grief are useful in guiding nursing care of clients who are experiencing loss, there are no clear-cut stages of grief, nor are there exact timetables. Kübler-Ross describes all stages of grief and grieving. None of the models clearly or definitively predict grief behaviors. No research exists that proves these models are not useful.
2. C) Although the models of grief are useful in guiding nursing care of clients who are experiencing loss, there are no clear-cut stages of grief, nor are there exact timetables. Kübler-Ross describes all stages of grief and grieving. None of the models clearly or definitively predict grief behaviors. No research exists that proves these models are not useful.
3. D) Although the models of grief are useful in guiding nursing care of clients who are experiencing loss, there are no clear-cut stages of grief, nor are there exact timetables. Kübler-Ross describes all stages of grief and grieving. None of the models clearly or definitively predict grief behaviors. No research exists that proves these models are not useful.

Page Ref: 1742

Cognitive Level:  Analyzing

Client Need:  Psychosocial Integrity

Nursing Process:  Planning

Learning Outcome:  1. Summarize the physiology of grief and loss.

 

4) During a home care visit, an elderly male client tells the nurse that his wife died 3 years ago. Which action by the client would the nurse interpret as being a possible indicator that this client is experiencing complicated grief?

1. A) The client tells the nurse that his wife was an awful cook and that he has eaten better meals since she died.
2. B) The client shows the nurse his wife’s craft room and states that it remains just as she left it before she died.
3. C) The client has an album of photographs of his wife open on the living room table.
4. D) The client indicates that he sends his laundry out to be done because he had never figured out how the washer works.

Answer:  B

Explanation:  A) Leaving the deceased wife’s craft room and belongings intact for over 3 years is considered outside the normal limits of the grief process for the elderly. Talking about his deceased wife’s good and bad points and showing photographs of her are normal responses to grief. Sending out the laundry to be done is a healthy response to a problem that this client identified.

1. B) Leaving the deceased wife’s craft room and belongings intact for over 3 years is considered outside the normal limits of the grief process for the elderly. Talking about his deceased wife’s good and bad points and showing photographs of her are normal responses to grief. Sending out the laundry to be done is a healthy response to a problem that this client identified.
2. C) Leaving the deceased wife’s craft room and belongings intact for over 3 years is considered outside the normal limits of the grief process for the elderly. Talking about his deceased wife’s good and bad points and showing photographs of her are normal responses to grief. Sending out the laundry to be done is a healthy response to a problem that this client identified.
3. D) Leaving the deceased wife’s craft room and belongings intact for over 3 years is considered outside the normal limits of the grief process for the elderly. Talking about his deceased wife’s good and bad points and showing photographs of her are normal responses to grief. Sending out the laundry to be done is a healthy response to a problem that this client identified.

Page Ref: 1743

Cognitive Level:  Analyzing

Client Need:  Psychosocial Integrity

Nursing Process:  Evaluation

Learning Outcome:  3. Identify commonly occurring alterations in grief or loss and their related therapies.

 

5) The nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with dysfunctional grieving after the loss of a child. What treatment approaches are appropriate for the nurse to utilize for a client with dysfunctional grieving?

Select all that apply.

1. A) Antidepressants
2. B) Instruction about maladaptive dependence on the nurse
3. C) Talk therapies
4. D) Cognitive therapy
5. E) Anger management

Answer:  A, C, D

Explanation:  A) The treatment for dysfunctional grieving is similar to the treatment for depression. Cognitive therapy, talk therapies, and antidepressants are all treatment options. The question does not indicate that the client has a problem with anger management or maladaptive dependence.

1. B) The treatment for dysfunctional grieving is similar to the treatment for depression. Cognitive therapy, talk therapies, and antidepressants are all treatment options. The question does not indicate that the client has a problem with anger management or maladaptive dependence.
2. C) The treatment for dysfunctional grieving is similar to the treatment for depression. Cognitive therapy, talk therapies, and antidepressants are all treatment options. The question does not indicate that the client has a problem with anger management or maladaptive dependence.
3. D) The treatment for dysfunctional grieving is similar to the treatment for depression. Cognitive therapy, talk therapies, and antidepressants are all treatment options. The question does not indicate that the client has a problem with anger management or maladaptive dependence.
4. E) The treatment for dysfunctional grieving is similar to the treatment for depression. Cognitive therapy, talk therapies, and antidepressants are all treatment options. The question does not indicate that the client has a problem with anger management or maladaptive dependence.

Page Ref: 1747

Cognitive Level:  Analyzing

Client Need:  Psychosocial Integrity

Nursing Process:  Implementation

Learning Outcome:  6. Demonstrate the nursing process in providing culturally competent and caring interventions across the life span for individuals with common alterations in grief or loss.