The nurse is caring for a terminal ill client in the final stages of t

The nurse is caring for a terminal ill client in the final stages of the death process when the cli-ent’s daughter asks, “Why are you putting drops in dad’s eyes?” The nurse responds more accu-rately by telling the daughter that:

1. “His blinking reflex is gone and these drops lubricate his corneas.”
2. “The drops will keep the corneas moist since you have donated them.”
3. “They are artificial tears that will keep his eyes from becoming dry and painful.”
4. “They were prescribed for him but I won’t instill them if you prefer that I don’t”

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Blinking reflexes diminish near death, causing drying of the cornea. Optical lubricants or artificial tears reduce corneal drying. While the other options are accurate, they do not address the daugh-ter’s question as thoroughly as the identification of and reasoning for the drops.