A young adult patient with metastatic cancer, who is very close to death, appears restless. The patient keeps repeating, "I am not ready to die." Which action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Remind the patient that no one feels ready for death.
b. Sit at the bedside and ask if there is anything the patient needs.
c. Insist that family members remain at the bedside with the patient.
d. Tell the patient that everything possible is being done to delay death.
ANS: B
Staying at the bedside and listening allows the patient to discuss any unresolved issues or physical discomforts that should be addressed. Stating that no one feels ready for death fails to address the individual patient's concerns. Telling the patient that everything is being done does not address the patient's fears about dying, especially since the patient is likely to die soon. Family members may not feel comfortable staying at the bedside of a dying patient, and the nurse should not insist that they remain there.
You might also like to view...
During a nutritional assessment, why is it important for the nurse to ask a patient what medications he or she is taking?
a. Certain drugs can affect the metabolism of nutrients. b. The nurse needs to assess the patient for allergic reactions. c. Medications need to be documented in the record for the physician's review. d. Medications can affect one's memory and ability to identify food eaten in the last 24 hours.
The nurse is providing health education to the parents of a toddler who has been diagnosed with food allergies. What should the nurse teach this family about the child's health problem?
A) "Food allergies are a life-long condition, but most families adjust quite well to the necessary lifestyle changes." B) "Consistent use of over-the-counter antihistamines can often help a child overcome food allergies." C) "Make sure that you carry a steroid inhaler with you at all times, especially when you eat in restaurants." D) "Many children outgrow their food allergies in a few years if they avoid the offending foods."
The nurse is aware that a Stage II Wilms tumor means that the tumors are:
a. Less than 2 centimeters in one kidney b. In both kidneys c. In one kidney and another organ d. Confined to one kidney or the abdomen
The nurse is working in the newborn nursery. In planning for temperature measurement, the nurse will obtain the best reading on the infants by using which one of the following?
a. Rectal site b. Oral site c. Disposable thermometer strips d. Axillary site