Deck 30: Palliative Care

Question 1

During postmortem care,the patient's family says that the patient didn't have his dentures to place in his mouth.Which action should the nurse take at this time?

A) Place a rolled-up towel under the patient's chin.
B) Stuff the mouth with cotton to maintain the facial contour.
C) Tell the family to take the dentures to the funeral home.
D) Ask the family what they want to do about this situation.

Answer 1

Place a rolled-up towel under the patient's chin.

Question 2

The family wants to see their family member who has just died.What actions by the nurse should be undertaken when the family comes to visit?

A) Provide hygienic care, including hair care, in their presence.
B) Tell the family to ask any questions that they have about the patient.
C) Place the patient's valuables in the body bag to accompany the patient to the morgue.
D) Share past experiences of grief with the family so they understand that what they are feeling is not unique.

Answer 2

Tell the family to ask any questions that they have about the patient.

Question 3

The nurse provides postmortem care for an unfamiliar patient.Which approach should the nurse use to best care for the body after death?

A) Ask about the patient's cultural or spiritual practices.
B) Remove tubes and lines before they become difficult to remove.
C) Cover the patient and transfer the body to the morgue.
D) Remove the old patient identification (ID) band and apply a new one.

Answer 3

Ask about the patient's cultural or spiritual practices.

Question 4

2. _______ refers to a person's specific beliefs and behaviors associated with a religious tradition.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient who is dying but is receiving palliative care.What reason should the nurse give to the patient's family for this type of care?

A) It eliminates all adverse symptoms.
B) It improves the patient's quality of life for the time that remains.
C) It increases the daily caloric and fluid intake.
D) It improves the amount of activity tolerated.

Question 6

The nurse wants to provide specialized nursing care for a patient with a serious degenerative illness that is not life threatening but for which there is no cure.Which approach would the nurse use in the care of this patient?

A) Hospice care
B) A combination of hospice care and palliative care
C) Palliative care
D) Experimental curative therapy with hospice care

Question 7

The patient is in the final stage of dying.Which action does the nurse implement?

A) Maintain a darkened, cool room.
B) Elevate the head of the bed.
C) Catheterize the patient frequently.
D) Provide warm, soothing liquids.

Question 8

The nurse is explaining the similarities between palliative care and hospice care to the family of a patient.Which statement indicates a need for further education? (Select all that apply.)

A) Palliative care is used for patients nearing the end of their life.
B) Palliative care is only for those patients who are terminally ill.
C) Patients who are receiving palliative care can continue with treatments aimed at cure.
D) Patients are active participants in their care and decisions.
E) Patients are cared for by an interdisciplinary team.

Question 9

The nurse is explaining to the patient the transition phase from palliative care to hospice care.Which statement by the patient indicates a good understanding of the process?

A) "I will go into a hospice bed."
B) "I will no longer be focused on curative treatment."
C) "My pain management program will change."
D) "My physician team will change."

Question 10

The nurse plans nonpharmacological comfort measures for a patient who is dying.What activity should the nurse include for this type of comfort?

A) Keep the head of the bed lowered.
B) Provide regular hygiene and skin care.
C) Reduce the amount of analgesics given.
D) Offer foods and liquids with strong aromas.

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient who just died.Which action should the nurse take first to determine if the patient is an organ or tissue donor?

A) Delegate the task to nursing assistive personnel (NAP).
B) Determine the patient's legal representative.
C) Request a copy of the patient's driver's license.
D) Ask the spouse to sign an organ donation consent.

Question 12

The family of the patient receiving hospice care is at the bedside expecting an imminent death.They become upset when the patient suddenly becomes restless and disoriented.Which should the nurse implement as the patient advocate?

A) Apply oxygen with a face mask.
B) Ask the family to leave the room.
C) Speak to the patient calmly and softly.
D) Administer extra pain medication.

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient who is dying.What should the nurse understand about grief that can facilitate family grieving?

A) Grief can begin long before the patient actually dies.
B) The family needs to say good-bye to the patient.
C) Update the family on every patient change.
D) Provide a list of the area funeral homes and available services.

Question 14

1. ____________ refers to a dynamic dimension of human life,expressed in a person's search for meaning and hope.

Question 15

The nurse is caring for a Hindu patient receiving hospice care.Which does the nurse expect to facilitate for the family when the patient dies?

A) Allowing the family members to wash and prepare the patient's body
B) Helping the family arrange for burial of the body
C) Communion and prayers by any type of minister or priest
D) Discussion of the finality of death