Author Question: An intensive care nurse discusses withdrawal of care with a client's family. The family expresses ... (Read 134 times)

luminitza · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

An intensive care nurse discusses withdrawal of care with a client's family. The family expresses concerns related to discontinuation of therapy. How should the nurse respond?

a. I understand your concerns, but in this state, discontinuation of care is not a form of active euthanasia.
b. You will need to talk to the provider because I am not legally allowed to participate in the withdrawal of life support.
c. I realize this is a difficult decision. Discontinuation of therapy will allow the client to die a natural death.
d. There is no need to worry. Most religious organizations support the client's decision to stop medical treatment.

Question 2

A nurse assesses a client who is dying. Which manifestation of a dying client should the nurse assess to determine whether the client is near death?

a. Level of consciousness
b. Respiratory rate
c. Bowel sounds
d. Pain level on a 0-to-10 scale

234sdffa · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
The nurse should validate the family's concerns and provide accurate information about the discontinuation of therapy. The other statements address specific issues related to the withdrawal of care but do not provide appropriate information about their purpose. If the client's family asks for specific information about euthanasia, legal, or religious issues, the nurse should provide unbiased information about these topics.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Although all of these assessments should be performed during the dying process, periods of apnea and Cheyne-Strokes respirations indicate death is near. As peripheral circulation decreases, the client's level of consciousness and bowel sounds decrease, and the client would be unable to provide a numeric number on a pain scale. Even with these other symptoms, the nurse should continue to assess respiratory rate throughout the dying process. As the rate drops significantly and breathing becomes agonal, death is near.