Author Question: A patient with a terminal illness says that when the pain becomes too unbearable he plans to take an ... (Read 78 times)

sabina · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A patient with a terminal illness says that when the pain becomes too unbearable he plans to take an overdose of pain medication and end it all. How should the nurse respond to this patient's plan?

Select all that apply.

1. Do you have a living will?
2. Have you assigned durable power of attorney to anyone?
3. Have you considered a healthcare surrogate?
4. Have you researched methods for self-euthanasia?
5. Have you talked with your healthcare provider about orders for life-sustaining treatment?

Question 2

A preoperative patient says to the nurse, I hope I wake up after surgery. I don't know what my family would do if I didn't. The nurse realizes this patient is demonstrating which potential problem?

1. coping
2. chronic sorrow
3. anticipatory grieving
4. death anxiety

fraziera112 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1, 2, 3, 5

A living will is a document that provides written directions about life-prolonging procedures to follow when an individual can no longer communicate in a life-threatening situation. Durable power of attorney is a document that can delegate the authority to make healthcare decisions. A healthcare surrogate is a person selected to make medical decisions when the patient is no longer able to do so. A physician order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) is a form for patients with serious, progressive, chronic illnesses that translates their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment into actionable medical orders. Euthanasia is not supported by the American Nurses Association and would be inappropriate to discuss with the patient.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3

Anticipatory grieving is a combination of intellectual and emotional responses and behavior by which people adjust their self-concept in the face of a potential loss. This patient is expressing a feeling, not demonstrating coping. This patient is not demonstrating chronic sorrow, which is a cyclical, recurring, and potentially progressive pattern of pervasive sadness experienced in response to continual loss, throughout the trajectory of an illness or disability. This patient is not experiencing death anxiety, which is worry or fear related to death or dying. It may be present in patients who have an acute life-threatening illness, who have a terminal illness, who have experienced the death of a family member or friend, or who have experienced multiple deaths in the same family.