Author Question: The nurse cares for an adolescent patient who is dying. The patient's parents are interested in ... (Read 114 times)

NguyenJ · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

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.

Question 2

A hospice patient is manifesting a decrease in all body system functions except for a heart rate of 124 and a respiratory rate of 28. Which statement, if made by the nurse to the patient's family member, is most appropriate?

a. These symptoms will continue to increase until death finally occurs.
b. These symptoms are a normal response before these functions decrease.
c. These symptoms indicate a reflex response to the slowing of other body systems.
d. These symptoms may be associated with an improvement in the patient's condition.

pami445 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

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.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
An increase in heart and respiratory rate may occur before the slowing of these functions in the dying patient. Heart and respiratory rate typically slow as the patient progresses further toward death. In a dying patient, high respiratory and pulse rates do not indicate improvement, and it would be inappropriate for the nurse to indicate this to the family. The changes in pulse and respirations are not reflex responses.