The hospice nurse has notified the family that their loved one has died.
The family is coming to view the body. Which action should the nurse take?

End-of-life care focuses on communication, psychological support, and advocacy. Knowledge of therapeutic communication and the stages of grief is required to provide holistic care that empowers the family while reducing the uncertainty and helplessness often associated with terminal illness.

Choice A rationale

Clarifying rationale reduces anxiety by providing the family with an understanding of how pain management promotes comfort. Knowledge of pharmacokinetics helps families accept that scheduled dosing prevents breakthrough pain, reducing their stress regarding the dying process.

Choice B rationale

Using the teach-back method ensures that the family accurately understands the complex medical information provided. This reduces frustration caused by misunderstandings or the cognitive impairment often associated with high stress and emotional exhaustion during terminal care.

Choice C rationale

Transparency regarding delays prevents feelings of neglect or abandonment. Explaining the medical reasoning behind schedule changes builds trust and ensures the family feels respected and involved in the care planning process during a vulnerable time.

Choice D rationale

Limiting interactions can make a family feel isolated or ignored during a crisis. While privacy is important, the nurse must remain available and present, as social isolation often increases the stress and fear associated with death.

Choice E rationale

Providing unlimited access to staff addresses the unpredictability of terminal illness and the family's need for reassurance. This support system minimizes frustration by ensuring that questions and physiological changes are addressed promptly by the healthcare team.

This question involves delegation principles in hospice care. Knowledge of the scope of practice for volunteers versus clinical staff is required. It focuses on identifying non-clinical, psychosocial support tasks appropriate for an unlicensed, non-medical volunteer to perform.

Choice A rationale

Providing spiritual support is a specialized role typically reserved for chaplains or trained clergy members. While volunteers are supportive, this task involves professional spiritual counseling and assessment beyond a general volunteer scope of practice.

Choice B rationale

Assessing the availability and functionality of medical equipment is a clinical responsibility. The nurse or a medical technician must ensure that the home environment is safe and that technical care requirements are met appropriately.

Choice C rationale

Personal care, such as sponge baths and skin assessments for bony prominences, involves physical contact and monitoring for skin breakdown. These tasks are typically delegated to nursing assistants or home health aides, not volunteers.

Choice D rationale

Volunteers in hospice are trained to provide companionship and emotional presence. Sitting with a client to reminisce provides psychosocial support and comfort, which falls within the volunteer's role of enhancing the client's quality of life.