A nurse is teaching a class about skeletal muscles.
Which of the following should the nurse identify as a function of skeletal muscles?

Choice A rationale
Increasing fluid intake can help alleviate constipation. Fluids can soften stool, making it easier to pass.
Choice B rationale
A low-fiber diet can actually contribute to constipation. Fiber adds bulk to the stool and helps it move more quickly through the intestines.
Choice C rationale
While mineral oil can sometimes be used to relieve constipation, it is not typically the first intervention chosen. It can interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients and medications.
Choice D rationale
Cold fluids do not have a significant effect on constipation. While staying hydrated is important, the temperature of the fluids is not typically a factor in constipation.

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.