Deck 5: Symptom Management: Non Pain Symtomatology at the End of Life

Question 1

A patient tells the nurse that she tries to wash up in the morning before eating breakfast but becomes easily fatigued and does not eat very much. Which of the following can the nurse suggest to help this patient?

A) Sleep as late as possible, do activities, and then eat before doing more activities
B) Do as many activities as possible before breakfast, take a nap, and then have something to eat
C) Do as many activities as possible before breakfast, eat a small amount, do more activities, and then rest
D) Do one activity before breakfast, rest, eat breakfast, rest, and then do another activity

Answer 1

Do one activity before breakfast, rest, eat breakfast, rest, and then do another activity

Question 2

A terminally ill patient with a swallowing disorder experiences coughing after drinking fluids. Which of the following can be done to help this patient?

A) Keep the bed flat after the patient ingests fluids
B) Suggest a chest x-ray be done
C) Thicken the fluids
D) Restrict fluids or suggest a nothing-by-mouth status

Answer 2

Thicken the fluids

Question 3

A terminally ill patient has been experiencing frequent episodes of diarrhea. Which of the following should the nurse assess in this patient?

A) Current electrolyte status
B) Contents of food ingested
C) Presence of cramping
D) Appetite level

Answer 3

Current electrolyte status

Question 4

A terminally ill patient begins to demonstrate agitation. Which of the following should the nurse assess as the possible reason for this change in the patient's behavior?

A) Hunger
B) Presence of an infection
C) Thirst
D) Increase in dependence

Question 5

A patient being treated for cancer is admitted with a new onset of aphasia and right- sided muscle weakness. The nurse should suspect which of the following is occurring with this patient?

A) Renal failure
B) Cerebral vascular accident
C) End stage respiratory illness
D) Congestive heart failure

Question 6

An HIV positive patient is admitted with onset of new symptoms. Which of the following would indicate to the nurse that the patient is experiencing AIDS?

A) Flaccid paralysis
B) Constipation
C) Edema
D) New diagnosis of cancer

Question 7

A terminally ill patient demonstrates a new onset of delirium. Which of the following can the nurse do to immediately help this patient?

A) Lower the head of the bed
B) Assist the patient out of bed to a chair
C) Reapply removed oxygen via nasal cannula
D) Reduce intravenous fluids

Question 8

A patient has been experiencing hiccups for several hours. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

A) Restrict fluids
B) Coach the patient to do the Valsalva maneuver
C) Assist the patient to ambulate
D) Contact the physician for an order to draw labs for serum electrolyte levels

Question 9

A patient diagnosed with cancer tells the nurse that he is constantly nauseated and can vomit at any time. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

A) Provide the patient with black coffee
B) Remove all sources of noxious odors from the environment
C) Provide the patient with fruit juice and raw vegetables
D) Provide the patient with cornflakes and milk

Question 10

A terminally ill patient tells the nurse that he wishes he could cry since his eyes feel grainy and dry. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

A) Reduce the humidity in the room
B) Obtain an order for artificial tears
C) Provide humidified oxygen
D) Obtain an order for saline nasal gel

Question 11

A patient diagnosed with cancer tells the nurse that he does not want to wait around to die since his prognosis is not good anyway. Which of the following should the nurse assess in this patient?

A) Ask the patient if he is depressed
B) Pain level
C) Fluid intake
D) Urine output

Question 12

A terminally ill patient begins to complain of nausea and refuses food. Which of the following should the nurse assess as a possible cause for these new symptoms?

A) Activity level
B) Urine output
C) Fluid intake
D) Last bowel movement

Question 13

The nurse is planning strategies to improve the appetite of a patient with anorexia. Which of the following would be beneficial?

A) Encouraging the family to coax the patient into eating more.
B) Serving large food portions on large plates
C) Highly aromatic foods served piping hot
D) Offering a 4-ounce glass of wine with dinner

Question 14

A patient is admitted for chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Which of the following symptoms is the nurse most likely to assess in this patient?

A) Decreased urine output
B) Hunger
C) Fatigue
D) Insomnia

Question 15

A patient tells the nurse that he feels increased shortness of breath. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

A) Provide oxygen via a face mask immediately
B) Further assess the patient to determine the underlying cause
C) Measure the patient's pulse oximetry
D) Assist the patient out of bed to ambulate

Question 16

A terminally ill patient with numerous mouth sores is refusing to eat anything. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

A) Provide dry toast and orange slices
B) Provide an ice-cold popsicle
C) Provide hot chicken noodle soup
D) Provide room-temperature vanilla pudding

Question 17

The nurse is assessing a patient with coronary artery disease. Which of the following should the nurse assess first in this patient?

A) Angina
B) Shortness of breath
C) Edema
D) Constipation

Question 18

A terminally ill patient has a new onset of fever. Which of the following can the nurse do to help this patient?

A) Assist patient out of bed to a chair and help with ambulation
B) Contact the physician and prepare to culture urine, sputum, stool, and blood
C) Restrict fluids
D) Apply a cool washcloth to the patient's forehead

Question 19

A patient is admitted with tachypnea, confusion, and cyanosis. Which of the following disease processes is this patient experiencing at this time?

A) Congestive heart failure
B) End-stage respiratory illness
C) Coronary artery disease
D) Acute renal failure

Question 20

The nurse is caring for a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Which of the following findings would indicate that the patient is in the last stages of the disease?

A) Hypertension
B) Fluid volume overload
C) Cardiac arrhythmia
D) Paralysis