RN Exam Practice
Psychosocial IntegrityQuestion 296 of 2368

A family member asks whether to talk to a dying client who no longer responds. Which response by the nurse is best?

  1. "Please share your thoughts with them, as their hearing may still be intact."
  2. "Talking will only tire the client out, so it is best to remain silent."
  3. "Unresponsive clients cannot hear anything, so talking will not help."
  4. "Only the nurses should talk to the client, to avoid confusing them."
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Correct answer: "Please share your thoughts with them, as their hearing may still be intact."

Communication varies as death nears, but the sense of hearing may remain. Families should be encouraged to share thoughts and feelings.

Source: Nursing Fundamentals, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Grief and Loss: Subjective Assessment. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Psychosocial Integrity"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026