C HAPTER 30: D YING , D EATH , AND G RIEVING
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse talks with a woman who recentl y learned that her husband died
while jogging. What is the appropriate statement for the nurse to provide
in response?
a. “At least your husband did not suffer.”
b. “It’s better to go quickl y as your husband did.”
c. “Your husband’s loss must be very painful for you.”
d. “You will begin to feel better after you get over the shock.”
ANS: C
The most helpful responses by others vali date the bereaved person’s
experience of loss. Avoid clichés, because they are ineffective.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. Famil y members ask the nurse, “What can we say when our loved one
says, ‘Death is coming soon?’” To promote communication, which
response could the nurse suggest for family members?
a. “We feel sad when we think about life without you.”
b. “We have not given up on getting you well.”
, c. “We think you will be around for a long time yet.”
d. “Let’s talk about the good memories we have.”
ANS: A
The correct response is emotionall y honest. It allows the family
opportunities to express emotions, address issues in the relationship,
and say farewell. The distracters are evasive.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. Which finding indicates successful completion of an individual’s grief and
mourning?
a. For 2 years after her husband’s death, a widow has kept her
husband’s belongings in their usual places.
b. After 15 months, a widower realisticall y remembers both the
pleasures and disappointments of his relationship with his wife.
c. Three years after her husband’s death , the widow talks about her
husband as if he is alive and weeps when others mention his name.
d. Eighteen months after a spouse’s death, an adult says, “I have never
cried or had feelings of loss, even though we were very close.”
ANS: B
The goals of mournin g have evolved from doing the grief work, getting
over it, and moving on with life. The work of grieving is over when the
bereaved person can remember the individual realisticall y and
acknowledge both the pleasure and disappointments associated with the
, loved one. The individual is then free to enter into new relationships
and activities. The incorrect options suggest maladaptive grief.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs:
Psychosocial In tegrity
4. A child drowned while swimming in a local lake 2 years ago. Which
behavior best indicates the child’s parents are mourning in an effective
way?
a. They forbid their other children from going swimming.
b. They keep a place set for the deceased child at t he famil y dinner
table.
c. They sealed their child’s room exactl y as the child left it 2 years
ago.
d. They throw flowers on the lake at each anniversary date of the
accident.
ANS: D
Loss of a child is among the highest risk situations for maladaptive
grieving. Depending on many factors, this process can take many
months to a number of years. The parents who throw flowers on the
lake on each anniversary date of the accident are openl y expressing
their feelings. The incorrect options indicate the parents are iso lating
themselves and/or denying their feelings.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yze (Anal ysis) TOP:
Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial
Integrit y
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse talks with a woman who recentl y learned that her husband died
while jogging. What is the appropriate statement for the nurse to provide
in response?
a. “At least your husband did not suffer.”
b. “It’s better to go quickl y as your husband did.”
c. “Your husband’s loss must be very painful for you.”
d. “You will begin to feel better after you get over the shock.”
ANS: C
The most helpful responses by others vali date the bereaved person’s
experience of loss. Avoid clichés, because they are ineffective.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. Famil y members ask the nurse, “What can we say when our loved one
says, ‘Death is coming soon?’” To promote communication, which
response could the nurse suggest for family members?
a. “We feel sad when we think about life without you.”
b. “We have not given up on getting you well.”
, c. “We think you will be around for a long time yet.”
d. “Let’s talk about the good memories we have.”
ANS: A
The correct response is emotionall y honest. It allows the family
opportunities to express emotions, address issues in the relationship,
and say farewell. The distracters are evasive.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. Which finding indicates successful completion of an individual’s grief and
mourning?
a. For 2 years after her husband’s death, a widow has kept her
husband’s belongings in their usual places.
b. After 15 months, a widower realisticall y remembers both the
pleasures and disappointments of his relationship with his wife.
c. Three years after her husband’s death , the widow talks about her
husband as if he is alive and weeps when others mention his name.
d. Eighteen months after a spouse’s death, an adult says, “I have never
cried or had feelings of loss, even though we were very close.”
ANS: B
The goals of mournin g have evolved from doing the grief work, getting
over it, and moving on with life. The work of grieving is over when the
bereaved person can remember the individual realisticall y and
acknowledge both the pleasure and disappointments associated with the
, loved one. The individual is then free to enter into new relationships
and activities. The incorrect options suggest maladaptive grief.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs:
Psychosocial In tegrity
4. A child drowned while swimming in a local lake 2 years ago. Which
behavior best indicates the child’s parents are mourning in an effective
way?
a. They forbid their other children from going swimming.
b. They keep a place set for the deceased child at t he famil y dinner
table.
c. They sealed their child’s room exactl y as the child left it 2 years
ago.
d. They throw flowers on the lake at each anniversary date of the
accident.
ANS: D
Loss of a child is among the highest risk situations for maladaptive
grieving. Depending on many factors, this process can take many
months to a number of years. The parents who throw flowers on the
lake on each anniversary date of the accident are openl y expressing
their feelings. The incorrect options indicate the parents are iso lating
themselves and/or denying their feelings.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yze (Anal ysis) TOP:
Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial
Integrit y
