An outcome for a patient experiencing anticipatory grieving for a spouse diagnosed with terminal cancer would be that the patient will:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because anticipatory grieving involves emotional involvement with the dying spouse. This allows the patient to process emotions, express love, and make meaningful connections before the actual loss. Choice B is incorrect as it suggests avoidance of pain through mental mechanisms, which is not conducive to healthy grieving. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on a specific behavior (violence) rather than the emotional process of grieving. Choice D is incorrect as it assumes the patient's agreement to care for the spouse is the primary outcome, overlooking the emotional aspect of anticipatory grief.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Medications the patient has recently taken. This is crucial because certain medications can cause delirium in elderly patients. Step 1: Evaluate recent medication history. Step 2: Identify medications known to cause delirium. Step 3: Determine if the patient has taken any of these medications. Other choices are incorrect because: A: Evidence of spasticity or flaccidity is more related to neuromuscular conditions. C: Level of preoccupation with somatic symptoms is not specific to delirium assessment. D: The patient’s level of motor activity is not a key factor in distinguishing delirium from other problems.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because reorienting the patient to time, place, and person is crucial in the immediate post-ECT period to help the patient regain orientation as consciousness improves. This intervention helps prevent confusion and disorientation commonly experienced after ECT. A: Continually stimulating the patient may be overwhelming and unnecessary. B: Continuing bagging is not relevant after ECT as the patient's respiratory function should have stabilized. D: Encouraging walking and eating can be unsafe immediately post-ECT due to potential disorientation and muscle weakness.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because chronic sorrow is a continuous feeling of grief or sadness that occurs when there is a discrepancy between the reality of a situation and the individual's expectations or hopes. In this case, the father of an adult son who is schizophrenic is likely to experience chronic sorrow due to the ongoing challenges and difficulties associated with his son's mental illness. This long-term impact on his emotional well-being aligns with the concept of chronic sorrow. Choices A, C, and D do not necessarily imply a long-term or continuous feeling of grief. The mother of a child with asthma may experience anxiety or distress during asthma attacks, but it may not necessarily lead to chronic sorrow. The daughter whose father had a hip replacement may experience temporary worry or concern but not chronic sorrow. The wife whose husband requested a trial separation may experience sadness and distress, but it is not a situation that inherently leads to chronic sorrow.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why choice D is correct: 1. Maslow's hierarchy of needs places self-esteem as a fundamental psychological need. 2. Patient hygiene and dress contribute to self-esteem by promoting a sense of dignity and self-worth. 3. Attending to hygiene and dress before spousal visits shows respect for the patient's self-esteem. 4. This strategy directly addresses the self-esteem needs of elderly patients by enhancing their sense of self-worth and respect. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: A: Providing privacy for spouses does not directly address the patient's self-esteem needs. B: Arranging dining with spouses may enhance social needs but not directly address self-esteem. C: Including patients and spouses in educational sessions may promote social interaction but does not directly target self-esteem needs.