Change, Loss, and Grief
A client learns of the death of a family member. Which manifestation of grief should the nurse expect in this client?
Crying
Death is defined as what?
The absence of brain activity pulse and respirations
cessation of life
Focuses on symptoms that cause the person distress and adequately treating those symptoms
Comfort care
What is more comforting than “pushing” food or fluids?
Providing oral hygiene
Moistening lips and mouth
When is an autopsy needed?
When a death is unanticipated, suddenly/unexpected, suspicious (suicide/murder), injury (overdose, fall, vehicle accident ect.)
What is a psychological response to grief?
Anger
Denial
Depression
Bargaining
Name three rights of the dying patient
Ant three found in book:
EX.
• Have pain controlled
•treated as a living human being until I die
•I have the right to not be deceived
What does a truly compassionate nurse do?
Studies and learns about pain management and applies those principles in daily practice
listens to patient and family
displays empathy and compassion
What happens to the urine of a person facing impeding death?
Output decrease and becomes more concentrated
What is done to the body prior to an autopsy?
Any tubes that were in place should NOT be removed. (follow facility policy)
What is grief?
subjective response to actual or anticipated loss
Arrange Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's stages of coping with death in the correct sequence.
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
What is the first step to master the skill of therapeutic communication?
Begin by becoming comfortable with your own beliefs, values, and attitudes about death and dying
What is Cheyne Stokes respirations called and what is followed by?
Respirations that gradually become shallower
Followed by apnea
What is rigor mortis and what is it caused by?
Stiffness of body after death.
Defined by the person experiencing the loss and is less obvious to other people.
Perceived loss
The goal is to reduce or relieve the symptoms of a disease without attempting to provide curative care.
Palliative care
When discussing end of life care with a patient, what is most important to remember?
It is ultimately the patient's decision
_ is believed to be one of the last senses to be lost before death.
Hearing
What types of deaths are reported to the coroner?
Death within 24 hours after admission or during surgery
Death of a person who has not been under a physician’s care
What are specific instructions for healthcare
treatment that a person declares
Advance Directive
Living Will
Durable Power of Attorney
Important difference between palliative care and hospice.
The concept of palliative care is not exclusive to the end-of-life care; it is used in a variety of practice areas when the focus of care needs to switch from the curative focus to the focus on quality of life
what are signs of impending death?
cheyne stokes breathing
thready pulse
decrease blood pressure
temperature changes
hallucinations
what are the two types of euthanasia?
active
passive
What do you do if the eyes were to be donated?
Place ice packs on each eye.