{"id":54,"date":"2025-08-18T22:03:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T22:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/?page_id=54"},"modified":"2025-08-24T15:01:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T15:01:04","slug":"module-16","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/module-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Module 16"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Module 16: Death and Dying<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Statement of Purpose: The Nurse Assistant is introduced to the various stages of the grieving process and physical signs of approaching death. This unit introduces death as a normal stage of life. The health care provider must recognize the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of the patient\/resident during this period to understand coping mechanisms and provide support to the patient\/resident and family members.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Module 16 Vocabulary Study Tool:<\/strong> https:\/\/claude.ai\/public\/artifacts\/ffc848c8-72b3-49bb-a575-ad5be84960e9<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Performance Standards (Objectives): Define key terminology:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Acceptance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Advanced directives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Apnea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Anger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Artificial hydration\/nutrition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Autopsy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Bargaining<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Cachexia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Cheyne-stokes respirations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Denial<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Depression<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. Durable power of attorney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. Hospice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. Living will<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. Morgue<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. Mottling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. Palliative care<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. Patient Care Self-Determination Act<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. Postmortem care<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21. Prognosis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22. Reminiscence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. Reincarnation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24. Rigor mortis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. Shroud<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26. Terminal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patient, resident, and client are synonymous terms referring to the person receiving care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on Module 16’s Death and Dying vocabulary and the corresponding definitions from the nursing curriculum glossary, here are sentences for adult English learners preparing for the CNA California Exam:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Module 16: Death and Dying – Vocabulary Sentences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Acceptance<\/strong> is the final stage of grief when a person comes to terms with their situation and finds peace with dying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Advanced directives<\/strong> are pre-written and signed documents that tell doctors what medical treatment a person wants if they cannot speak for themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Apnea<\/strong> means a temporary absence of breathing, which can occur during the dying process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Anger<\/strong> is a normal feeling of great displeasure or hostility that dying patients and their families may experience during grief.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Artificial hydration\/nutrition<\/strong> refers to providing fluids and food through tubes when a person cannot eat or drink normally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. An autopsy<\/strong> is an examination of the organs and tissues of a dead body to determine the cause of death or study disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Bargaining<\/strong> is a defense mechanism where a person promises to change their behavior to avoid loss, such as “I’ll be good if I can live longer.”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Cachexia<\/strong> is severe malnutrition and body wasting that often occurs in terminally ill patients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Cheyne-Stokes respirations<\/strong> are an abnormal breathing pattern of shallow breaths followed by deeper breaths, then stopping, often seen near death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Denial<\/strong> is the refusal to accept or believe something, often used to protect a person from painful feelings about death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Depression<\/strong> is a state of sadness, grief, or low spirits that may range from mild to severe during the grieving process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)<\/strong> is an order written by a physician indicating that no extraordinary means should be used when death occurs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. A durable power of attorney<\/strong> is a document giving someone the right and responsibility to make health care decisions for another person.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Hospice<\/strong> care focuses on comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients and can take place at home or in a facility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. A living will<\/strong> is an advance directive that provides specific instructions for medical treatment or organ donation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. A morgue<\/strong> is a place where dead bodies are kept until they are identified or prepared for burial.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. Mottling<\/strong> refers to spots or blotches of different colors on the skin, usually associated with poor circulation near death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. Palliative care<\/strong> is focused on providing comfort rather than trying to cure the disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. The Patient Care Self-Determination Act<\/strong> is a law requiring hospitals to give patients information about advance directives like living wills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. Postmortem care<\/strong> is the physical care given to a body after death to prepare it with dignity and respect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. A prognosis<\/strong> is a prediction about the probable course of a disease and the patient’s chances of recovery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. Reminiscence<\/strong> involves remembering and talking about events and personal experiences from the past, which can comfort dying patients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. Reincarnation<\/strong> is the belief that the soul is reborn into a new body after death, held by some religious traditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. Rigor mortis<\/strong> is the stiffening of the body that occurs several hours after death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. A shroud<\/strong> is something that covers or wraps around a deceased person’s body.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  26. Terminal<\/strong> means there is no reasonable expectation of recovery from an illness or condition.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    These sentences will help CNA students understand both the vocabulary terms and their practical application in end-of-life care situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Module 16: 5 CNA Dialogues: Death and Dying Vocabulary<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

    Dialogue 1: Understanding Advanced Directives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Nurse Supervisor (Maria):<\/strong> Good morning, Sarah. Today we’ll discuss advanced directives<\/strong> with Mrs. Johnson’s family. Do you know what these are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    CNA Student (Sarah):<\/strong> I think they’re legal documents, but I’m not sure exactly what they include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Maria:<\/strong> Exactly. Advanced directives<\/strong> include a living will<\/strong> and a durable power of attorney<\/strong>. The living will states the patient’s wishes about artificial hydration and nutrition<\/strong> if they can’t communicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sarah:<\/strong> What about the Do Not Resuscitate<\/strong> order we saw on her chart?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Maria:<\/strong> That’s a DNR<\/strong> order. It means if Mrs. Johnson’s heart stops, we won’t perform CPR. This follows the Patient Care Self-Determination Act<\/strong>, which gives patients the right to make these decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sarah:<\/strong> It must be difficult for families to make these choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Maria:<\/strong> Yes, that’s why we provide emotional support and ensure they understand all options, including palliative care<\/strong> and hospice<\/strong> services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Dialogue 2: Recognizing Physical Signs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    CNA (David):<\/strong> I’m concerned about Mr. Wilson in room 302. His breathing seems different today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Registered Nurse (Jennifer):<\/strong> Can you describe what you’re observing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    David:<\/strong> He has periods where he stops breathing completely – what we call apnea<\/strong> – then starts again. Is this normal?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jennifer:<\/strong> You’re noticing Cheyne-Stokes respirations<\/strong>. This irregular breathing pattern is common as patients approach end of life. What else have you observed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    David:<\/strong> His skin looks patchy, especially on his legs. It’s darker in some spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jennifer:<\/strong> That’s mottling<\/strong> – poor circulation causes this skin discoloration. These are signs his body is preparing for death. We need to keep him comfortable and notify his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    David:<\/strong> Should we discuss his prognosis<\/strong> with them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jennifer:<\/strong> The doctor will handle that conversation. Our role is to provide compassionate care and observe any changes in his condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Dialogue 3: Supporting Family Through Grief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    CNA (Lisa):<\/strong> Mrs. Garcia’s daughter seems very upset today. She keeps saying “This can’t be happening.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Social Worker (Robert):<\/strong> She’s experiencing denial<\/strong>, which is the first stage of grief. People often refuse to accept their loved one’s terminal<\/strong> diagnosis initially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lisa:<\/strong> Yesterday she was shouting at the doctors, demanding they do more tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Robert:<\/strong> That sounds like anger<\/strong> – another grief stage. Sometimes families get angry at medical staff when they feel helpless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lisa:<\/strong> Now she’s asking if her mother will get better if she donates money to the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Robert:<\/strong> That’s bargaining<\/strong> – trying to make deals to change the outcome. Eventually, she may experience depression<\/strong> before reaching acceptance<\/strong>. Each person grieves differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lisa:<\/strong> How can I help her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Robert:<\/strong> Listen without judgment, offer tissues, and encourage her to share memories through reminiscence<\/strong>. Sometimes talking about happy times brings comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Dialogue 4: End-of-Life Physical Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    New CNA (Alex):<\/strong> I’ve never cared for someone who was dying before. What should I expect?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Experienced CNA (Carmen):<\/strong> End-of-life changes can be gradual. You might notice cachexia<\/strong> – severe weight loss and muscle wasting as the body shuts down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alex:<\/strong> Are there other physical signs I should watch for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Carmen:<\/strong> Yes. Breathing may become irregular with apnea<\/strong> episodes. Skin temperature drops, and mottling<\/strong> appears on extremities. These are natural processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alex:<\/strong> What happens after death?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Carmen:<\/strong> Rigor mortis<\/strong> begins – muscles stiffen gradually. We perform postmortem care<\/strong>, which includes cleaning and positioning the body with dignity. Sometimes families request an autopsy<\/strong> to determine exact cause of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alex:<\/strong> Where does the body go afterward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Carmen:<\/strong> Usually to the morgue<\/strong> until funeral arrangements are made. We wrap the body in a shroud<\/strong> – a special covering – before transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Dialogue 5: Cultural and Spiritual Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    CNA (Michael):<\/strong> The Patel family is asking about their father’s care after death. They mentioned something about reincarnation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chaplain (Susan):<\/strong> Many Hindu families believe in reincarnation<\/strong> – that the soul moves to a new body after death. This affects their funeral customs and timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Michael:<\/strong> They want to stay with him until he passes. Is that okay?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Susan:<\/strong> Absolutely. Family presence provides comfort and respects their spiritual beliefs. We support whatever brings peace during this difficult time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Michael:<\/strong> What if they have specific requests about handling his body?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Susan:<\/strong> We honor cultural and religious preferences whenever possible. Some families have particular washing rituals or positioning requirements. Always ask respectfully about their traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Michael:<\/strong> The daughter keeps talking about memories of her father’s childhood in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Susan:<\/strong> Reminiscence<\/strong> is healing. Sharing stories helps families process grief and celebrate their loved one’s life. Encourage these conversations – they’re part of the healing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Key Vocabulary Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Legal Documents:<\/strong> Advanced directives, living will, durable power of attorney, DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), Patient Care Self-Determination Act<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Physical Signs:<\/strong> Apnea, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, mottling, cachexia, rigor mortis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Grief Stages:<\/strong> Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Care Types:<\/strong> Palliative care, hospice, postmortem care<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Medical Terms:<\/strong> Terminal, prognosis, autopsy, artificial hydration\/nutrition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cultural\/Spiritual:<\/strong> Reincarnation, reminiscence, shroud, morgue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Module 16: Death and Dying Statement of Purpose: The Nurse Assistant is introduced to the various stages of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-54","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148,"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions\/148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesl.us\/aesl740\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}