Exam 1: Nursing Care at the End-Of-Life: Introductory Concepts

A patient with heart failure and an irregular heart beat is demonstrating renal dysfunction caused by cardiac medications. The patient is otherwise healthy and has the desire to maintain a specific quality of life. Which of the following should be done to help this patient?

A patient receiving palliative care tells the nurse that she doesn't want to go to church anymore and has no appetite for food or drinks. The nurse realizes the patient is demonstrating:

The wife of a patient receiving palliative care thanks the nurse for "being there" while her husband was dying. The nurse realizes the wife is describing:

The nurse, providing palliative care, discusses with the patient ways to achieve a specific healthcare goal. The patient then tells the nurse which intervention he prefers. The nurse and patient's discussion exemplifies which of the following characteristics of palliative care?

The healthcare team has determined two different approaches to helping a patient's heart problem. Since the patient is receiving palliative care, which of the following should the team do next?

An elderly couple lives independently at home. The husband is having increasing arthritic pain and will be hospitalized for surgery. Wife needs assistance with applying a sleep apnea device at night. According to the principles of palliative care, which of the following will be planned for this family?

The nurse is upset that a patient died before having the opportunity to visit with a friend one last time and thinks that she should have phoned the friend a day sooner. The patient did have a peaceful death despite not fulfilling his last request. Which of the following does this situation exemplify?

A patient with a terminal illness tells the nurse that he does not want palliative care because he does not want to die as quickly as possible. Which of the following should the nurse respond to this patient?

A patient receiving palliative care tells the nurse that she knows she has become a burden because her daughter has quit her full time job and now works part time in order to be available to meet her mother's healthcare needs. The nurse realizes that which of the following quality-of-life dimensions need to be incorporated in this patient's plan of care?

A patient, planning to receive hospice care, tells the nurse that he is questioning his decision because he wants to take advantage of treatment options that might prolong his life and is afraid that hospice is a "death sentence." Which of the following responses should the nurse give this patient?

A patient receiving hospice care is being admitted to the hospital for one week so that his wife can attend physician's appointments and rest. The nurse realizes that the patient will be receiving which level of hospice care?

An elderly patient is seen crying quietly in her room. When being comforted by the nurse, the patient says that all she wants is to be able to hear well so that she can hear her grandchildren's laughter and the daily news report on the radio. Which of the following can the nurse do to assist this patient to have a better quality of life?

A patient with a chronic debilitating illness has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The nurse realizes that which of the following would need to be determined prior to discussing the plan of care for the patient?

The family of a patient receiving palliative care is frustrated with the patient, because he continues to "order the family around" by "telling them what to do and how to do it." The nurse realizes the family is experiencing which of the following quality-of-life dimensions with the patient?

A patient, receiving palliative care for chronic lung disease, has a hip fracture. According to the principles of palliative care, the nurse realizes that which of the following will be done to help this patient?

The family of a recently deceased patient thanks the nurse for helping their mother "die well." The nurse realizes the family is describing:

An elderly patient tells the nurse that unless he has surgery for an arthritic joint, he will not be able to continue driving and maintaining his home and garden. The nurse realizes this patient is describing his:

The daughter of a dying patient asks the nurse if she could please wash her mother's face and hands and help dress her in a more comfortable gown. The nurse realizes the daughter's request is:

The family of a patient receiving palliative care is concerned that he has developed a productive cough and at times appears confused by calling out to people who died years ago. The nurse realizes the patient is experiencing which of the following?

A patient tells the nurse that he wants to continue to do household chores but finds that he loses strength as the day goes on. Which of the following can the nurse do in assisting this patient to maintain his quality of life?