PBC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 2

Question 1

A nurse identifies that a bereaved mother has no social support network and has stopped eating regularly two weeks after her stillbirth. Which risk factor most increases the clinician's concern for complicated grief?

Accepted Answer

Social isolation combined with self-neglect behaviors

Answer

Social isolation paired with self-neglect behaviors (not eating) signals heightened risk for complicated grief and possible depression.

Question 2

Which screening tool is most commonly recommended to assess postpartum depression risk in bereaved mothers following perinatal loss?

Accepted Answer

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Answer

The EPDS is the gold-standard validated tool for identifying postpartum depression risk, including in bereaved mothers.

Question 3

A father discloses he has been drinking heavily every night since his infant's death three weeks ago. The bereavement counselor's PRIORITY action is to:

Accepted Answer

Assess the frequency and quantity of alcohol use and refer for substance evaluation

Answer

Escalating alcohol use after loss is a significant risk factor requiring formal assessment and possible referral before other grief interventions.

Question 4

During a bereavement follow-up call, a mother states, 'I don't see the point of going on without my baby.' The clinician should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Directly ask if she is having thoughts of suicide

Answer

Statements suggesting hopelessness require direct, compassionate inquiry about suicidal ideation as an immediate priority.

Question 5

Which prior history finding places a bereaved parent at the HIGHEST risk for developing prolonged grief disorder following perinatal loss?

Accepted Answer

Prior perinatal loss with incomplete grief processing

Answer

A prior perinatal loss that was never adequately grieved creates unresolved grief that compounds with new loss, elevating risk for prolonged grief disorder.

(PBC) Perinatal Bereavement Certification Practice Test

(PBC) Perinatal Bereavement Certification Practice Test

PBC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 2