a nurse is providing care for a patient who reports experiencing flashbacks of a traumatic event that occurred a year ago.
Which of the following stress-related disorders should the nurse identify that the patient is experiencing?

Choice A rationale
Increased joint stiffness is a common age-related change in older adults.
Choice B rationale
Increased muscle mass is not typically an age-related change. In fact, older adults often experience a decrease in muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenia.
Choice C rationale
Increased calcification of bones is not a typical age-related change. Older adults are more likely to experience osteoporosis, a condition characterized by a decrease in bone density.
Choice D rationale
Decreased balance is a common age-related change, but it is not the correct answer for this question.

Choice A rationale
Initiating life-saving measures such as a rapid response call would not be appropriate in this context. The patient is in a hospice setting, which focuses on providing comfort and quality of life for patients who are nearing the end of life, rather than aggressive life-saving interventions.
Choice B rationale
Calling the provider because these signs and symptoms are abnormal would not be the correct response. In a hospice setting, these symptoms are expected and are indicative of the natural dying process.
Choice C rationale
The statement that rapid respirations that are unusually deep and regular are curative for the patient is incorrect. Cheyne-Stokes respirations, characterized by a pattern of increasing and then decreasing depth of breath followed by a period of apnea, are often seen in patients nearing the end of life. They are not curative but are a sign of the body’s decreasing metabolic demands and changing physiology as death approaches.
Choice D rationale
The nurse understanding that these are impending signs of death and are normal is the correct response. The symptoms described, including loss of appetite, swelling of the limbs, increased sleep, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, and hallucinations, are all common in the final stages of life.
Recognizing these signs can help the nurse provide appropriate care and support to the patient and their family during this time.