The nurse cares for an adolescent patient who is dying. The patient's parents are interested in organ donation and ask the nurse how the decision about brain death is made. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. "Brain death occurs if a person is flaccid and unresponsive."
b. "If CPR is ineffective in restoring a heartbeat, the brain cannot function."
c. "Brain death has occurred if there is no breathing and certain reflexes are absent."
d. "If respiratory efforts cease and no apical pulse is audible, brain death is present."
ANS: C
The diagnosis of brain death is based on irreversible loss of all brain functions, including brainstem functions that control respirations and brainstem reflexes. The other descriptions describe other clinical manifestations associated with death but are insufficient to declare a patient brain dead.
You might also like to view...
How can planning help the nurse-manager? (Select all that apply.)
1. Identifying future opportunities 2. Quickly fixing current problems 3. Developing strategies 4. Avoiding future problems 5. Designing courses of action
The patient has acute angina upon exercise. The physician starts this patient on a long-acting nitrate. Why is this medication used for acute angina?
1. It reduces blood going to vessels, reducing pain. 2. It opens vessels, increasing blood supply to the heart during exercise. 3. It controls returning blood going to the heart. 4. It thins returning blood going to the heart.
The adolescent whose childhood has been characterized by positive interactions with a loving and supportive family and community will more likely experience the transitions of adolescence with:
a. confidence b. self-doubt c. control issues d. identity problems
The nurse is counseling a parent whose child has a communication disorder. Which of the following would the nurse emphasize when teaching the parent about this disorder?
A) Providing the child with nonverbal activities B) Initiating conversations with the child frequently C) Stopping the child's conversation if stuttering begins D) Asking the physician for medication to improve the child's speech