Page 587 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

Box 18-15

Fear Associated With Dying

Fear of Pain

Fear of pain may occur, based on anxieties related to dying.
Do not delay or deny pain relief measures to a terminally ill client.

Fear of Loneliness and Abandonment

Allow family members to stay with the client.
Holding hands, touching (if culturally acceptable), and listening to the client are
important.

Fear of Being Meaningless

Client may feel hopeless and powerless.
Encourage life reviews and focus on the positive aspects of the client’s life.

Adapted from Lewis S, Dirksen S, Heitkemper M, Bucher L, Camera I: Medical-
surgical nursing: assessment and management of clinical problems, ed 8, St. Louis, 2011,
Mosby.

Box 18-16
General Postmortem Procedures

Close the client’s eyes.
Replace dentures.
Wash the body and change bed linens if needed.
Place pads under the perineum.
Remove tubes and dressings.
Straighten the body and place a pillow under the head in preparation for family
viewing.

Practice Questions

157. A 4-year-old child diagnosed with leukemia is hospitalized for
chemotherapy. The child is fearful of the hospitalization. Which nursing
intervention should be implemented to alleviate the child’s fears?
1. Encourage the child’s parents to stay with the child.
2. Encourage play with other children of the same age.

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