Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Which of the following is NOT a component of decision-making capacity?
• Which statement accurately differentiates hospice care from general palliative care?
• Which action demonstrates patient-centered communication at end of life?
• The nurse is providing care to a patient who is approaching death. Which family member statement regarding the physical and psychological changes associated with death is reflective of the middle stage?
• In delirium management, which approach is emphasized as the first action?
• A patient with a terminal illness expresses a desire to discuss spiritual concerns. What is the nurse's appropriate action?
• A nurse finds that a terminally ill patient has cold, clammy, and wax-like skin. What should the nurse infer from this assessment?
• Which statement about prognosis communication in diverse populations is most accurate?
• How should culturally sensitive care be integrated into palliative care practice?
• Which statement reflects anticipatory grief?
• What is the role of corticosteroids in palliative care?
• A patient has been receiving palliative care for the past several weeks in light of her worsening condition after a series of strokes. The caregiver has rung the call bell, stating that the patient 'stops breathing for a while, then breathes fast and hard, and then stops again.' You recognize that the patient is experiencing
• Which nutrition strategy is appropriate for a patient with anorexia due to cancer?
• POLST/MOLST is best described as?
• Which environment best supports comfort for an end-of-life patient who is anxious or agitated?
• A terminally ill patient is experiencing nausea and vomiting. What is an appropriate nursing action?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) in palliative care?
• What is the role of benzodiazepines in delirium management?
• Which approach best addresses caregiver distress in palliative care?
• What is an appropriate response by the healthcare team when a patient expresses hopelessness?
• Identify the statement that reflects an abnormal grief reaction by the spouse of a dying patient.
• What is hospice care and its core criteria?
• What is CAM-ICU/4AT used for?
• Which term best describes a family member's grief when the bereavement extends for an extended period and disrupts functioning?
• A terminally ill patient and family have been tearful since the diagnosis. What should be the nurse's focus when planning care?
• How is dyspnea at the end of life best managed pharmacologically?
• Which approach best guides prognosis discussions with patients?
• How is decision-making capacity defined in palliative care?
• A nurse has been working full time with terminally ill patients for 3 years. He has been experiencing irritability and mixed emotions since four of his patients died on the same day. To optimize the quality of his nursing care, he should examine his own
• In palliative care, a patient is experiencing dyspnea. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize to provide relief?
• Which tool is widely used to assess functional status in palliative care prognosis?
• Before administering haloperidol for delirium, which factor should be evaluated as part of the medication assessment?
• Which of the following is NOT typically considered a neurologic assessment parameter in the last stage of life?
• How should feeding at the end of life be discussed?
• In pediatrics, which goals define palliative care?
• Which data would NOT support a terminal patient’s capacity to decide about stopping treatment?
• Which data best supports the patient’s capacity to decide about stopping treatment?
• Hospice eligibility is met when:
• The nurse is providing care to a patient who is approaching death. Which family member statement regarding the physical and psychological changes associated with death is reflective of the late stage?
• A competent older adult has a living will refusing resuscitation and heroic life support, but the family plans to contest it. Which nursing action is appropriate?
• In ethical end-of-life care, which statement best reflects respecting a competent patient's autonomy when refusing treatment?
• How does telemedicine support palliative care?
• Which option best addresses oral moisture needs for an unconscious patient in end-of-life care?
• When discussing feeding at end of life, clinicians should consider which factors?
• How should prognosis discussions be approached with a patient who has limited life expectancy?
• The nurse is listening to a client who says, "I am so scared about how bad my heart failure symptoms have gotten lately." What would be the nurse's best action following this statement?
• There has been improvement in the health of an elderly patient who has been in hospice care for 6 months. What should the nurse suggest to this patient?
• In hospice care, a patient with decreasing function has vital signs indicating what?
• Which patient should the nurse refer for hospice care?
• Which statement by a spouse after the death of a partner suggests prolonged grief disorder, according to the example provided?
• Which antipsychotic is commonly used to manage delirium-related agitation in palliative care?
• What is an appropriate first step when a patient asks about prognosis?
• The patient did not have an advance directive after a stroke; who is responsible for making end-of-life decisions when the patient cannot communicate his or her wishes?
• A terminally ill patient has become confused, disoriented, and restless. The patient is incoherent and has had constipation for 3 days. What action should the nurse take next?
• What is the primary purpose of hospice care?
• For opioid-naive patients, what is the recommended approach to initiating opioid therapy for pain?
• What is the first step in delirium management in palliative care?
• What is the role of exercise and physical therapy in palliative care?
• A patient is admitted to a hospital while already receiving home hospice care. The nurse identifies the patient’s general prognosis as which of the following?
• Which statement about palliative sedation is correct?
• In a patient who is dying and on comfort measures only, which nursing action best supports the primary goal of care?
• Which finding indicates the potential for an abnormal grief reaction in family members of a dying patient?
• Which statement best describes the primary aim of palliative care for patients with advanced illness?
• Which statement best describes how surrogate decision-makers should be engaged in care planning?
• What is a common cause of constipation in palliative care and how is it managed?
• What is the first-line pharmacologic option for moderate-to-severe cancer pain?
• What is the core aim of palliative care?
• In a home hospice program for a patient with lung cancer, which action is appropriate to address existential concerns?
• What is the primary purpose of caregiver support programs in palliative care?
• What action demonstrates therapeutic communication for a patient fearing dying alone?
• At end of life, when a patient lacks decision-making capacity and has no durable power of attorney, which principle guides nursing action?
• What practice best promotes culturally appropriate prognosis communication?
• Which approach best respects patient autonomy when a patient’s decision conflicts with family wishes?
• Which area should the nurse examine to optimize the quality of care and address burnout when caring for terminally ill patients?
• Which document addresses a patient's wishes about resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest?
• In a terminally ill patient who is unconscious and has a very dry mouth, which action best helps restore moisture?
• A patient with end-stage renal disease states, 'If my heart or breathing stops, I do not want to be resuscitated.' Which action should the nurse take first?
• Which data most strongly supports that a terminal patient is capable of making their own treatment decision?
• Which statement best describes nonpharmacologic approaches to sleep disturbances at end of life?
• In the relationship between advance care planning and advance directives, which statement is accurate?
• Advance care planning is best described as?
• What distinguishes a durable power of attorney for health care from a healthcare proxy?
• Which statement best describes the focus of hospice care relative to general palliative care?
• In palliative care, how should nausea and vomiting be approached pharmacologically?
• Which statement best describes the role of advance directives in end-of-life care?
• The nurse is providing care for a patient receiving curative care who is experiencing chronic pain due to cancer. Which type of care should the nurse plan for upon discharge for this patient?
• After years of caring for terminally ill patients, you notice irritability and mixed emotions after several deaths on the same day. To improve care, you should examine your own
• The nurse is assessing the patient for palliative care. When assessing the cultural domain, which question should the nurse include?
• In addressing a tearful patient who fears that her prison-bound brother may die in pain and alone, what is the best nurse response?
• When a patient requests spiritual support during end-of-life care, what is the appropriate nurse action?
• During a visit, the dying patient is silent for a period. What is the best response by the nurse?
• Which is a primary criterion of decision-making capacity?
• A patient at end of life expresses a fear of dying alone. What action should the nurse take?
• A terminally ill patient refuses to eat or drink. What should the nurse's initial action be?
• The nurse is educating the family of a patient who is receiving hospice care due to a terminal illness. Which medication should the nurse tell the family to administer to treat the patient's pain?
• In palliative care for an elderly patient with heart failure, which statement best describes a primary purpose?
• What is a key component of bereavement support after death?
• How should clinicians structure goals-of-care conversations to be effective?
• A patient with terminal cancer is admitted to a family-centered hospice. The spouse visits daily and discusses wedding plans; which provisional nursing diagnosis best applies to the spouse?
• Which regimen is commonly used to manage opioid-induced constipation?
• A patient is admitted with Cheyne-Stokes respirations. What assessment finding would you expect?
• When a hospice patient is anxious about unfinished business, which nursing approach best supports the patient?
• Which action is most important for the nurse to take to ensure culturally competent care for an alert, terminally ill Filipino patient?
• After a death, what is an appropriate step to support the family’s bereavement needs?
• Which four core domains are defined by the World Health Organization for palliative care?
• What should be documented in a patient’s treatment decision?
• The four core domains of palliative care, as defined by the WHO, are which of the following groups?
• A patient in palliative care is experiencing spiritual distress. What is the nurse's appropriate intervention?
• How is delirium defined and why is it important in palliative care?
• In palliative care, when should non-beneficial treatments be discontinued?
• An interprofessional approach is being considered for a patient in the last year of life. What is a priority area the nurse should consider when implementing this approach?
• In surrogate decision-making, which factor best guides decisions for a patient who lacks capacity?
• What is the role of spiritual care in palliative care?
• If a patient asks for a pastoral visit and the nurse does not share the patient's beliefs, what action is appropriate?
• A nursing student wants to enhance holistic care for individuals with hematologic malignancies transitioning to palliative care. What action aligns with best practice?
• What is an advance directive?
• What term describes the irreversible cessation of all brain activity, often discussed in organ donation contexts?
• Which statement best describes hospice care in relation to curative treatment?
• An adolescent patient with terminal cancer tells the nurse that she does not want to continue treatment, even though her parents are planning for her to participate in a study trial that involves aggressive chemotherapy. Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
• Which agents are commonly used for palliative sedation?
• A terminally ill patient develops audible, irregular breath sounds. Which explanation is most appropriate?
• Which item is part of assessing patient decision-making capacity?
• Which term best describes grief characterized by acceptance and positive reminiscence?
• Which statement describes hospice core criteria?
• When a patient has no advance directive and cannot communicate, whose preferences guide end-of-life measures?
• How should surrogate decision-makers be identified and engaged?
• A patient at the end of life is confused and anxious, likely due to therapy with opioids and corticosteroids. Which nursing action best supports this patient?
• To ensure surrogate decisions reflect the patient’S preferences, which practice is recommended?
• A middle-aged patient says, "My mother died 4 months ago, and I just can't get over it. I'm not sure it is normal to still think about her every day." Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate?
• In institutional settings, hospice and palliative care can be provided; which statement reflects this?
• What is the ethical relationship between withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment?
• In a hospice setting, which medication is used to treat delirium?
• What is prognostication and why is it important in palliative care planning?
• Which statement best summarizes common ethical concerns near end of life?
• A family member asks the nurse about the purpose of advance care planning. What is the nurse's best response?
• A client has just heard from his oncologist that his chemotherapy is no longer working and that his cancer has gotten worse. The doctor shared this information with the nurse and said that he was worried the client is very distressed. Which of the following should the nurse use to begin a conversation with the client?
• Which clinical manifestation most strongly indicates imminent death in a patient with terminal lung cancer?
• The nurse is educating the family of a patient who is receiving hospice care due to a terminal illness. Which medication should the nurse tell the family to administer for this patient if delirium occurs?
• During admission of a patient diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, you assess for which of the following as a key indicator of clinical depression related to terminal illness?
• You are visiting with the wife of a patient who is having difficulty making the transition to palliative care for her dying husband. What is the most desirable outcome for the couple?
• A terminally ill, unresponsive patient exhibits Cheyne-Stokes respirations. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
• A home health nurse visits a 40-year-old patient with metastatic breast cancer who reports pain at 7/10. In prioritizing actions, which should be done first?
• Which nursing response is most appropriate when a dying patient expresses fear of death?
• Which statement best characterizes anticipatory grieving?
• If a patient cannot communicate and has no advance directive, who is responsible for end-of-life decision-making according to the source?
• Which finding would most strongly indicate risk for abnormal grief after a loved one's death?
• Opioid rotation (switching from one opioid to another) is used to achieve what?
• Which statement by a graduate nurse in a hospice unit requires intervention by the preceptor?
• A patient with terminal cancer says death may come soon. Which response is most appropriate?
• Anticipatory grief is best described as grief responses that occur before death, and appropriate support includes information, counseling, and support to families.
• Which action best supports spiritual care in palliative settings?
• The family caregivers of an older patient have not left the bedside for 36 hours. Which finding best indicates potential for an abnormal grief reaction?
• A terminally ill patient is experiencing severe pain. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
• Which statement best describes the transition from curative to palliative focus in care planning for a patient with terminal illness?
• How can telemedicine support palliative care?
• For a patient with bronchial carcinoma experiencing anorexia and nausea, which nursing measure is appropriate?
• A 67-year-old woman with inoperable pancreatic cancer used to be very active in her community. What common end-of-life psychological manifestation is she most likely exhibiting?
• A family is considering hospice for their loved one who is terminally ill, but they are concerned that they cannot afford hospice care. Which response by the nurse is accurate?
• A hospice nurse becomes close to a patient who dies; the nurse feels saddened as the family begins to cry. Which action is appropriate at this time?
• A patient with inoperable lung cancer is planning a trip to settle unfinished business with family. Which psychosocial response best describes this behavior?
• Which nonpharmacologic strategies are used to relieve dyspnea?
• In pediatric palliative care, which is a priority?
• Which statement best reflects the hospice philosophy of care?
• The caregiver of a patient with chronic illness experiences grief after the death of the patient. The caregiver recalls positive memories and the nurse notes that the caregiver is accepting the reality of the death. What type of grief is this?
• For what purpose are corticosteroids most commonly used in palliative care?
• When a patient requests to stop treatment and is believed to be competent, which is the most appropriate step?
• How is patient capacity assessed?
• Which strategy helps minimize opioid-induced respiratory depression in high-risk patients?
• Who is typically involved in providing spiritual care as part of a palliative care team?
• Which action most supports a patient’s privacy and need for quiet during the end-of-life stage?
• Which tools are used to assess pain in nonverbal patients?
• When going to the hospital, which form should patients bring to address end-of-life ethical or legal issues?
• In risk assessment for end-of-life care, which domain includes questions about cultural beliefs and preferences that affect care decisions?
• What is the primary role of bereavement support in palliative care?
• Opioid rotation is best described as what?
• Which statement best describes informed consent in end-of-life care?
• For a patient with terminal cancer who has severe pain, which analgesic scheduling approach is recommended?
• In a training scenario, which action by a hospice team member would prompt supervisor guidance due to potential safety concerns for the patient?
• What is palliative sedation and when is it indicated?
• Which statement differentiates palliative care from hospice care?
• Which outcome should be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of continuing education and debriefing interventions for palliative care providers?
• A nurse is caring for a Catholic patient with a massive cerebral hemorrhage unlikely to survive. Which intervention is most appropriate?
• How should pain be assessed in nonverbal patients?
• If there is doubt about capacity, which professional can assist in assessment?
• What approach best supports families caring for a patient receiving hospice care?
• When is an appropriate time to discuss advance care planning?
• Which statement best describes advance directives?
• Hospice care focuses on which of the following?
• The nurse admits a terminally ill patient to the hospital. What is the first action that the nurse should complete when planning this patient's care?
• When a patient expresses fear about dying, what is the most supportive nursing action?
• Why is addressing spiritual distress important in palliative care?
• What is the role of nutrition and hydration at end of life?
• How should constipation be managed in palliative care?
• A family member expresses guilt about considering hospice for a terminally ill loved one. What is the nurse's best response?
• If there is doubt about a patient’s capacity to make a treatment decision, which action is most appropriate?
• Which medication is commonly used as an antiemetic in palliative care?
• Cheyne-Stokes respirations are described as which breathing pattern?
• Which non-opioid adjuvants are commonly used for cancer pain with neuropathic components?
• The nurse cares for a terminally ill patient with continuous, severe pain. How should analgesics be scheduled?
• The son of a dying patient says, "Mother doesn't really respond any more when I visit. I don't think she knows that I am here." Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
• Which statement accurately describes brain death determination?
• A spouse died two weeks ago. The nurse observes that the patient does not engage in active conversation and avoids eye contact. Which stage of grief is the patient in?
• In hospice care, the approach to care is best described as focusing on which of the following?
• For a patient on comfort measures only, which approach best aligns with the goal of care?
• Delirium is important to address in palliative care because:
• In palliative care, which professional role is directly involved in medication management and symptom control?
• A young adult with metastatic cancer who is near death appears restless and says, 'I am not ready to die.' What is the best action for the nurse?
• Which approach is recommended first to manage sleep disturbances at end of life?
• Which assessment is most likely to improve overall quality of life when spiritual distress is addressed?