Question 10 - Professional Caring and Ethical Practice Practice Test for the CCRN

The critical care nurse admits a 74-year-old patient for respiratory failure due to stage IV lung cancer. Through gasping breaths, the patient asks if she will be able to have smoke breaks while admitted to the ICU. The nurse explains that the patient will need significant respiratory support and possibly intubation and she will be unable to leave her room. The patient gasps, “I am just fine. I don’t need to be here. It won’t kill me to smoke.” The nurse understands that the patient is in which stage of grief?