The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Is in the Final

question 13

Multiple Choice

The nurse is caring for a patient who is in the final stages of his terminal disease.The patient is very weak but refuses to use a bedpan,and wants to get up to use the bedside commode.What should the nurse do?

• A) Explain to the patient that he is too weak and needs to use the bedpan.
• B) Insert a rectal tube so that the patient no longer needs to actively defecate.
• C) Enlist assistance from family members if possible and assist the patient to get up.
• D) Put the patient on a bedpan and stay with him until he is finished.

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Definitions:

Painful Realities

Harsh truths or facts that are difficult to accept or cause emotional distress.

Defense Mechanism

Psychological strategies used unconsciously by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety and to cope with reality.

Nursing Health History

Data collected about a patient's present level of wellness, changes in life patterns, sociocultural role, and mental and emotional reactions to illness.

Patient Expectations

The beliefs and anticipated outcomes that patients have regarding their health, treatment, and interactions within the healthcare system.