The family asks the practical nurse how they will know Mrs. Haliburton's death is imminent. What should the nurse respond?

The family asks the practical nurse how they will know Mrs. Haliburton's death is imminent. What should the nurse respond?

• A. Her skin may become mottled.
• B. Her respirations will become slow and deep.
• C. Her pulse will increase.
• D. Her temperature will decrease.

Answer: (A)

When death is approaching, the body’s circulation slows and changes in skin perfusion become visible. Skin mottling, a marbled or blotchy appearance from pooling of blood in dependent areas as circulation declines, is a reliable sign that death is near. This visual cue often appears before other changes are obvious and helps families understand what’s happening. Respirations in the dying process usually become irregular, sometimes with periods of rapid breathing followed by pauses (Cheyne-Stokes), rather than simply slow and deep. The pulse generally weakens and may become irregular instead of increasing. Body temperature often falls as the body's thermoregulation diminishes, but this cooling is less reliable and not as visibly distinctive as mottling.

When death is approaching, the body’s circulation slows and changes in skin perfusion become visible. Skin mottling, a marbled or blotchy appearance from pooling of blood in dependent areas as circulation declines, is a reliable sign that death is near. This visual cue often appears before other changes are obvious and helps families understand what’s happening.

Respirations in the dying process usually become irregular, sometimes with periods of rapid breathing followed by pauses (Cheyne-Stokes), rather than simply slow and deep. The pulse generally weakens and may become irregular instead of increasing. Body temperature often falls as the body's thermoregulation diminishes, but this cooling is less reliable and not as visibly distinctive as mottling.