A nurse caring for an elderly client who is in a coma and facing an inevitable death cautions the family that it is most important not to have inappropriate conversations near the client because:
1. Hearing may be the last sense "to go.".
2. It shows disrespect for the client.
3. Family members should get along.
4. It interferes with adequate care of the client.
Hearing may be the last sense "to go.".
Rationale: It is believed that the sense of hearing is the last sense "to go" when an individual is facing an inevitable death. Therefore, if this is the case, it is the nurse's responsibility to control the environment and not allow inappropriate conversations where the client can hear. While inappropriate conversations do show disrespect for the client, the fact that the client may hear what is occurring is most important. Hopefully, family members do get along; the nurse cannot control this, but can control the environment to keep the family from interfering with the care of the client.
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