Question 1

A client with lung cancer says to the nurse, "If I could just be free of pain for a few days, I might be able to eat more and regain strength." Which stage of grieving does the nurse conclude the client is in?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The client's "if only" statement reflects attempting to negotiate for a different outcome, which is characteristic of the bargaining stage of grief. It is not frustration, depression, or rationalization.

Question 2

A client with metastatic cancer of the lung has just been told the prognosis by the oncologist. The nurse hears the client state, “I don’t believe the doctor; I think he has me confused with another patient.” This is an example of which of Kubler-Ross’ stages of dying?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Disbelief and rejection of the diagnosis reflects the denial stage in Kübler-Ross’s stages of dying.

Question 3

In working with a depressed client, the nurse should understand that depression is most directly related to a person's?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Depression commonly follows or is intensified by perceived or actual loss (death, role, status, function); recognizing loss as a key precipitating factor guides nursing assessment and interventions.

Question 4

A client visits the clinic after the death of a parent. Which statement made by the client’s sister signifies abnormal grieving?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Absence of any sadness and acting as if nothing happened indicates delayed or inhibited grief, which is maladaptive. Crying for months, idealizing the deceased, and yearning are typical normal grief responses.

Question 5

When helping a person through grief work, the nurse knows?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Grief is not a linear process; individuals may experience stages out of order, skip stages, or have them recur. Perception strongly influences grief, effective past coping is often still used, and most clients do not simply want to be left alone.

Question 6

What are the stages of dying according to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Kubler-Ross’s model describes five stages of dying/grief summarized as DABDA: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The other options reflect different grief frameworks (e.g., Worden’s tasks, Bowlby/Parkes phases) and are not Kubler-Ross.

Question 7

A client experienced the loss of a seven month fetus. The nurse planning for discharge should emphasize?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Encouraging expression of feelings and use of support systems is a therapeutic intervention that facilitates healthy grieving after perinatal loss.

Question 8

A client whose spouse died 2 months ago states, “I keep expecting them to walk through the door. It doesn’t feel real yet.” How should the nurse interpret this response?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Feelings of disbelief and a sense of unreality are common in early stages of grief. These reactions do not indicate pathology unless they persist or significantly impair functioning over time.

Question 9

A nurse is caring for a parent whose child has just died unexpectedly. Which statement by the nurse is MOST therapeutic?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Simple expressions of presence and empathy are most supportive during acute grief. Minimizing statements, advice, or clichés can invalidate the parent’s experience.

Question 10

Which finding MOST strongly suggests complicated grief rather than normal bereavement?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Complicated grief is characterized by prolonged impairment in functioning well beyond expected timeframes. Ongoing sadness or intermittent emotions alone can be normal aspects of grief.

Question 11

A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings of sadness because of recent death of a beloved pet. The clients appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should the nurse interpret the clients behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Sadness after the death of a pet is an expected grief response and can occur without meeting criteria for a depressive disorder. The absence of changes in appetite, sleep, and daily functioning suggests the response is proportionate and not causing clinically significant impairment. Depression is typically characterized by persistent symptoms and functional decline. Therefore, the behavior aligns with normal bereavement rather than mental illness.

Question 12

Scenario: A patient has died, and the family is crying at the bedside. Q. What is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: " This response uses therapeutic communication by acknowledging the family’s feelings and validating their grief without minimizing the loss. It invites expression and support rather than offering clichés or redirecting the conversation. The other options are either dismissive, prematurely task-focused, or can be perceived as insensitive during acute bereavement.

Question 13

Which is not a stage of grief?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: g., Kübler-Ross) describe a predictable set of emotional responses to loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The correct choice is the one that does not belong to this framework. The other listed options are established stages within . Fear can be a normal emotion during illness or loss, but it is not one of the classic five stages typically referenced on exams, making it the best answer.

Question 14

A nurse is providing care for a client who has just died. Her son states, "She was the most wonderful mother. There was no one who was a better mother than she was. She was perfect." Which stage of grief is his son experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The son’s statements portray his mother as flawless and incomparable, reflecting this defensive filtering of reality. This differs from denial, which would center on refusing to accept the death or acting as if it did not occur. Recognizing this pattern helps the nurse respond therapeutically by validating feelings while gently supporting a more balanced remembrance over time.

Question 15

A couple experienced the loss of a 7 month-old fetus. In planning for discharge, what should the nurse emphasize?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Encouraging the couple to communicate openly and to engage supportive people (family, friends, bereavement groups, clergy) promotes healthy mourning and reduces isolation. Pushing them to “move through” the loss by focusing on other children can invalidate grief and complicate bereavement. Seeking definitive causes or quickly shifting to planning another pregnancy may be premature and can divert attention from needed emotional processing and support at discharge.

Question 16

A 2 day-old child with spina bifida and meningomyelocele is in the intensive care unit after the initial surgery. As the nurse accompanies the grandparents for a first visit, which response should the nurse anticipate of the grandparents?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: For grandparents arriving for a first visit, the most immediate reaction is often difficulty accepting the reality of the condition and surgery, expressed as numbness, questioning, or stunned silence. Anger and depression can occur later as the situation is processed, but they are less typical as the first response during initial confrontation. Anticipating disbelief helps the nurse use supportive, clear communication and allow time for emotional processing without pushing complex teaching too early.

Question 17

The nurse should communicate the news about the death of a client to the family?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Delivering death notification requires compassionate, therapeutic communication with immediate assessment of the family’s response and safety needs. In-person communication allows clear, direct wording, observation of nonverbal cues, and rapid emotional support, including arranging privacy, spiritual care, and follow-up resources. It also reduces the risk of miscommunication, shock without support, or message interception that can occur with indirect methods. Telephone may be used only when in-person notification is not feasible and should still be done by an appropriate provider with a plan for support; voicemail or messenger is inappropriate for such critical news.

Question 18

During which stage of illness should the nurse orient teaching to meet the client’s family’s needs?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Families commonly begin the grief response with denial/disbelief, and nursing teaching at this point should be oriented to what they can realistically absorb and use immediately. Short, concrete explanations and repetition help reduce anxiety and support basic understanding when concentration and information processing are limited. This approach addresses immediate coping needs and helps the family start engaging with the reality of the illness at a tolerable pace. Teaching aimed at long-term planning and role restructuring is better suited for later stages when acceptance and problem-solving capacity improve.

Question 19

The parents of an infant who just died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are angry at God and refuse to see any member of the clergy. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: This pattern aligns with the nursing diagnosis of spiritual distress, which includes questioning meaning, faith conflict, and refusal of spiritual care resources. Complicated grieving is premature to label immediately after a death and requires evidence of prolonged or maladaptive grief responses over time. Ineffective coping is broader and less specific than the clearly spiritual focus described.

Question 20

Which plan is most appropriate for a nurse scheduling a home visit to parents who lost an infant to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Prompt contact allows the nurse to assess coping, safety (including severe depression or suicidal ideation), and immediate needs while providing therapeutic communication and resources (bereavement counseling, support groups). Waiting two weeks delays support during the most vulnerable period and can worsen isolation. Excluding siblings is not appropriate as a blanket plan because siblings may also require assessment and age-appropriate support within the family system.

Question 21

The nurse is concerned that a client who experienced a perinatal loss 3 days ago may being exhibiting signs of dysfunctional grieving. It is important to assess the client for which sign?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In the immediate postpartum period after a perinatal loss, emotional lability and sadness are expected, but refusal to acknowledge the death suggests impaired progression through normal grief tasks. Ongoing denial can prevent engagement in mourning and meaning-making and may be associated with higher risk for prolonged grief and depression. In contrast, decreased appetite and frequent crying are common normal grief responses early after loss. Self-blame can occur in grief, but the clearest indicator of dysfunctional processing among these options is inability to accept the death.

Question 22

Which activity should the nurse recommend for long-term support of parents with an infant who has died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Groups specifically for infant loss/SIDS offer shared understanding and practical resources that parents may not get from their usual social network. This option also promotes sustained engagement and follow-up beyond the immediate crisis period. Counseling can be very helpful but is not always needed for every family long-term, whereas structured bereavement groups are broadly appropriate and accessible. Relying only on family/friends or religious attendance may help some parents, but these supports can be inconsistent and may not address the unique aspects of SIDS-related grief.

Question 23

Six months after the death of her infant son, a client is suspected of dysfunctional grieving. Which assessment would the nurse expect to find in this client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Dysfunctional (maladaptive) grieving is suggested when the person shows avoidance, denial, or an absence of expected grief responses that interferes with processing the loss. Being excessively active and behaving as though the loss has not occurred reflects denial/avoidance rather than integration of the death into the client’s life. In contrast, crying when discussing the loss and maintaining an ongoing bond (e.g., acknowledging the infant as part of the family) can be normal components of grief. Visiting the grave can also be a normal ritual unless it is compulsive or severely disrupts functioning, which is not indicated here.

Question 24

The nurse is aware that which reaction is usually exhibited by the family of an infant who has died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Families may believe they “missed something” or did something wrong, making self-blame and guilt a frequent, expected response. Early acceptance is uncommon because SIDS lacks a clear, satisfying explanation and the loss is abrupt. A therapeutic nursing approach anticipates these emotions and provides nonjudgmental support, reassurance, and resources to reduce complicated bereavement.

Question 25

The nurse learns that the Muslim female client is a recent widow. In addition to praying, which behavior should the nurse anticipate from the client in dealing with the loss of a loved one?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In many Muslim families, mourning is commonly managed within the family and community, with relatives providing practical help, presence, and guidance during the early bereavement period. Professional psychiatric care is not an expected routine response unless there are signs of complicated grief or a mental health crisis. Physical affection such as hugs from non-family caregivers may be unwelcome due to modesty and gender-related boundaries, so family-based support is the safer expectation.

Question 26

Many facilities allow the client’s family to be present during resuscitative efforts of the client. What is the advantage to having family present during resuscitation of a client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Family presence during resuscitation supports coping by providing transparency about the client’s condition and the intensity of life-saving efforts. Seeing the interventions helps family members grasp the seriousness of the situation, which can reduce later doubt, guilt, or mistrust about whether “everything was done.” This realistic understanding can facilitate anticipatory grief and healthier bereavement if the resuscitation is unsuccessful. Options focusing on denial, helplessness, or “obstruction” do not reflect the intended benefit; these are potential risks or poorly stated outcomes rather than advantages.

Question 27

Following the death of an infant from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which response by a nurse to the grieving parents is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason:  Therapeutic communication in acute bereavement prioritizes empathy, emotional support, and reducing inappropriate guilt. Parents commonly blame themselves after an unexpected infant death, so directly addressing self-blame helps normalize grief and supports coping. Statements focused on autopsy details or future pregnancies shift away from the parents’ immediate emotional needs and can feel dismissive. Teaching about safe sleep may be important later, but introducing preventive advice immediately after the loss is poorly timed and can be perceived as blaming.

Question 28

The 5-year-old tells the nurse, “If I wish hard enough, I know my mom will come back from the dead.” Which should the nurse conclude about the child’s statement?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Preschool-age children commonly use preoperational “magical” reasoning and may believe thoughts or wishes can cause events or reverse them, especially during stressful experiences like bereavement. The statement reflects an age-typical cognitive limitation in understanding death’s irreversibility rather than evidence of a pathological response. Interpreting it as ineffective coping over-pathologizes a normal developmental grief expression. While denial can occur in grief, the key feature here is the causal power attributed to wishing, which aligns most directly with magical thinking.

Question 29

The home health nurse is planning a follow-up visit to the parents after their first-born and only child died from SIDS. Which action is most important for the nurse to include in the initial visit?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In the initial post-loss visit, the priority is therapeutic communication to assess grief responses, provide emotional support, and identify immediate coping needs or safety risks. Open-ended listening validates the parents’ experience and helps the nurse tailor next steps based on what the parents are ready to hear and do. Teaching about SIDS mechanisms or future reproductive planning may be poorly timed early in grief and can feel dismissive, increasing distress and impairing rapport. Referrals (including genetics) can be appropriate later, but they should follow assessment of the parents’ concerns, readiness, and support systems.

Question 30

A 6-week-old infant is brought to the emergency department not breathing; a preliminary finding of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is made to the parents. Which intervention should the nurse take initially?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In sudden unexpected infant death, the priority is immediate psychosocial support that facilitates healthy grieving and helps parents begin to accept the reality of the loss. Providing the opportunity to see (and, per policy, to hold) their infant supports closure, reduces later complicated grief, and demonstrates therapeutic presence at a time of profound shock. Teaching about causes is not an initial need because it can feel blaming and is poorly retained during acute distress. Contacting a spiritual advisor or handling belongings may be appropriate later, but they are secondary to supporting the parents’ immediate grief response.

Question 31

A student nurse asks why a client would express disappointment after having a cesarean delivery instead of a vaginal delivery. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason:  Postpartum disappointment after an unplanned or undesired birth route is commonly related to perceived loss of control, unmet expectations, and grief over the birth experience. This option validates the client’s feelings and identifies a typical psychosocial response without judging or minimizing the experience. The other options shift focus to cost or broad generalizations about depression/fatigue, which do not therapeutically address the emotional meaning of the event for the client. Therapeutic communication prioritizes acknowledging emotions and normalizing grief reactions to support coping and adjustment.

Question 32

The hospice bereavement nurse is conducting a family support group. During the session, a 56-year-old client, who recently lost his 82-year-old father to lung cancer, describes how he is responding to his loss. The bereavement nurse expects which sign of grief?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: These experiences reflect ongoing attachment and cognitive-emotional processing rather than psychopathology. Intact, clear dreaming and imagery can be an expected, self-limited feature that gradually diminishes as adaptation occurs. By contrast, the absence of anger is not a typical “expected sign” because anger may or may not appear, and difficulty with crying is highly variable and not as characteristic as vivid dreams/imagery.

Question 33

The client reports becoming physically ill with frequent crying episodes, intense feelings of worthlessness, and loss of appetite on the anniversary of the death of the client's spouse. The client reports that this has occurred for the last 5 years- What should be the nurse's focus when counseling the client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The recurring anniversary-triggered episodes with somatic illness, intense worthlessness, and appetite loss indicate prolonged, dysfunctional coping that interferes with health and functioning. Counseling should therefore focus on identifying maladaptive grief responses, assessing for depression and self-harm risk, and developing healthier coping strategies and supports. Anticipatory grief occurs before a loss, and uncomplicated grief typically diminishes over time without persistent severe impairment, making those options less fitting.

Question 34

The nurse is counseling a mother who has had prolonged grief after the death of her child. Which statement would assist the nurse in assessing whether the mother is experiencing guilt?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason:  Assessment of guilt in grief uses open-ended, nonjudgmental questions that invite the client to describe distressing thoughts, self-blame, or “if only” ruminations. This prompt helps uncover intrusive memories or cognitions that commonly reflect guilt and regret after a loss, giving the nurse data to explore meaning and intensity. Option C is a teaching/intervention statement and is premature before confirming guilt is present. Options B and D may support reminiscence or assess functional impairment, but they do not specifically target guilt-related cognitions.

Question 35

The client and spouse were involved in a motorcycle accident in which the spouse was killed. The client, being treated for multiple rib fractures and a broken leg, asks the nurse in which room his wife is located. Which response is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason:  Nurses should communicate bad news using clear, direct, compassionate language while avoiding vague statements that can create confusion and mistrust. This response truthfully answers the client’s question and immediately orients him to reality, which is necessary to begin healthy grieving and to guide next steps in support. Options that deflect to the physician or family delay essential information and can be perceived as avoidance, increasing anxiety and distress. A vague statement that she is “not in the hospital” is misleading and can prompt false hope or repeated questioning, undermining therapeutic communication.

Question 36

A client has terminal cancer. Which is a correct illustration of the associated grief stage?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The client says, “I can’t believe God would do this to me!” This is an example of anger. Grief stages (Kübler-Ross) include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance; anger often appears as blaming others or expressing resentment toward a higher power. The statement reflects protest and blame, which aligns with anger rather than denial or depression. Option A actually demonstrates acceptance, not denial, because it shows readiness and peace with the outcome. Option B is more consistent with denial/hope for cure than true bargaining, which typically involves “if/then” deals to postpone loss.

Question 37

The client’s spouse states to a hospice nurse that she regrets that her husband remained agnostic even unto death. Which response by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason:  Therapeutic communication in grief prioritizes open-ended exploration of feelings to help the bereaved process guilt and meaning-making without judgment. This response invites the spouse to share emotions and context, allowing supportive listening and assessment of spiritual distress. Option A prematurely reassures and can shut down expression of grief. Options C and D steer the conversation toward the nurse’s agenda (probing beliefs or offering clergy) rather than first understanding the spouse’s needs and wishes.

Question 38

The hospice nurse shares with the supervisor that dealing with the death of a specific client has been particularly hard. Which response by the nursing supervisor is best?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: " The priority is to support healthy coping and provide an appropriate resource for professional grief processing to prevent complicated grief and compassion fatigue. This response validates the struggle and offers a concrete, evidence-based intervention (counseling) without minimizing the nurse’s feelings. In contrast, telling the nurse emotions will lessen with time can feel dismissive and does not provide an actionable support plan. Removing the nurse from hospice work or changing roles is premature and does not address the underlying grief response or build resilience.

Question 39

During transport for an emergency surgery, the client experiences a cardiac arrest and dies. The client’s family witnesses the arrest and is present when the client is pronounced dead. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates compassionate care?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: This action acknowledges the family’s shock after witnessing a resuscitation attempt and offers a quiet, protected space for initial grief, cultural rituals, and closure. It is a direct, compassionate nursing intervention that prioritizes psychosocial support at the moment of death. Explaining the code can be helpful later, but in the immediate aftermath the primary need is privacy and presence rather than clinical details.

Question 40

A parish nurse leads a bereavement support group for clients whose spouses died over a year ago. Which client should the nurse identify as displaying signs of dysfunctional grieving?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Ongoing daily crying more than a year after the loss plus avoidance of a meaningful place associated with the death suggests the grief is not integrating and is limiting normal activities. In contrast, maintaining symbolic bonds (e.g., speaking aloud to the deceased) and using spirituality for coping can be normal adaptive strategies. Refusing to donate clothing may reflect a slower pace of letting go and is not necessarily pathological unless it causes significant impairment or unsafe behaviors.

Question 41

The 85-year-old spouse of the client, who passed away 2 months ago, states to the nurse, "Thankfully, my friends and family have been driving me places; I don't have a driver's license anymore." How should the nurse interpret the client's statements?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The spouse expresses gratitude and identifies practical help from friends and family to meet transportation needs, showing effective use of social support and problem-solving. At 2 months post-loss, needing assistance with driving does not indicate pathology by itself, especially when the person is engaging appropriately and not showing distressing impairment. Exaggerated or inhibited grief would be suggested by persistent disabling dysfunction, denial, or inability to engage with life tasks, which is not evident here. The statement also does not imply total dependency; it describes a specific, appropriately managed limitation.

Question 42

A client delivered a term male infant four hours ago. The infant was stillborn. Which of the following room assignments would be most appropriate for this client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Nursing care after a stillbirth must address both postpartum physiologic needs and acute bereavement, while minimizing additional emotional triggers. A private room provides privacy for grief responses and reduces exposure to hearing other newborns or celebrating families, which can intensify distress. She still requires routine postpartum assessment (bleeding, uterine tone, pain control, infection monitoring) best supported on the postpartum unit with appropriate staffing and resources. Discharging early prioritizes bed flow over psychosocial and physical recovery, and rooming with another loss patient is not reliably therapeutic because grief reactions and coping styles can differ and may worsen distress.

Question 43

A 60-year-old client had a colostomy 4 days ago due to rectal cancer and is having trouble adjusting to it. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for this client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: A new colostomy creates a major change in body appearance and function, and difficulty adjusting to that change most directly supports the nursing diagnosis of disturbed body image. Within the official leaf list, this fits best under Grief and Loss because the client is coping with a significant physical loss and the emotional adjustment that follows.

Question 44

Nurses work with dying clients and their families everyday. The needs of the families of dying clients are?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Families of dying clients need opportunities to express feelings such as fear, sadness, anger, and anticipatory grief. Emotional expression is a normal and necessary part of coping with end-of-life situations, whereas the other options reflect maladaptive or non-therapeutic behaviors.

Question 45

A patient with a terminal diagnosis says to the nurse “if I can just live long enough to walk my daughter down the aisle, I’ll be okay with this.” What stage of grief is the patient experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The patient is making a conditional statement (“if I can just live long enough… I’ll be okay with this”), which reflects a deal-making mindset to postpone the loss. This differs from denial, where the person rejects the reality of the diagnosis rather than negotiating around it. It also differs from depression, which would present as pervasive sadness, hopelessness, or withdrawal rather than a goal-focused condition for acceptance.

Question 46

Which type of crisis is experienced by a patient who experiences the sudden death of a loved one?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Sudden death of a loved one is an acute, unplanned stressor that commonly precipitates intense grief reactions and short-term dysfunction consistent with this category. Adventitious crises are typically related to disasters, war, or violent events affecting many people, whereas this stem centers on a personal life event. Maturational crises arise from predictable developmental transitions, which does not fit an abrupt bereavement. Recognizing the crisis type guides nursing interventions toward grief support, crisis counseling, and strengthening coping systems.

Question 47

A client has recently been told he has terminal cancer. As the nurse enters the room, he yells, “My eggs are cold, and I’m tired of having my sleep interrupted by noisy nurses!” The nurse may interpret the client’s behavior as?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Anger is a common emotional response after receiving a terminal diagnosis and is often displaced onto staff or minor environmental frustrations. The client’s yelling and blaming about cold food and interrupted sleep reflects irritability and externalization rather than a reasoned complaint about care. Disenfranchised grief refers to grief that is not socially recognized or supported, which is not the primary pattern shown here. Maturational loss and previous losses are broader life-change concepts and do not best explain the acute, reactive hostility following a terminal prognosis.

Question 48

When a client has sustained significant losses, which represents the guiding principle when providing nursing care?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Grief increases vulnerability to stress, and additional losses or major changes can overwhelm coping mechanisms and worsen anxiety, sleep disturbance, and functioning. A key nursing principle is to support stability, minimize unnecessary change, and pace new demands while assessing coping and safety. There is no standard timeframe for “resolving” grief; responses vary widely and can be prolonged or complicated. Changing the environment does not reliably speed grieving and can remove familiar supports, so it is not an evidence-based guiding principle.

Question 49

The nurse provides discharge teaching to a client following a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). What expected symptom may occur after surgery, but will resolve within a few weeks?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Feeling sad is the expected finding. After CABG and other major heart surgeries, patients commonly report feeling emotional, low, or tearful during early recovery, and patient recovery guidance notes that these feelings are usually temporary and improve over the following days to weeks. In contrast, chest pain, significant edema, or palpitations can suggest postoperative complications and should not be framed as a routine self-limited recovery symptom.

Question 50

The nurse talks to a 26-year-old woman in the emergency department (ED) immediately after her son's death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The nurse should?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Immediately after a sudden death, the priority is therapeutic communication that supports acute grief and promotes emotional expression. Encouraging the mother to cry and talk facilitates normal grieving, conveys acceptance, and helps establish trust in a highly distressing moment. Teaching about SIDS or asking investigatory questions focuses on information-gathering and can feel blaming or premature when the client is in shock. Assessing other children may be relevant later for practical support, but it is not the most therapeutic first action in the immediate aftermath.

Train with a large NCLEX question bank and jump into a full exam-style simulator

Grief and Loss NCLEX Practice Test

Continue Learning