End-of-life Care and Palliative Care > Fundamentals
Exam Review
Psychosocial and Spiritual Care
Total Questions : 5
Showing 5 questions, Sign in for moreA nurse is caring for a client who is receiving palliative care for terminal cancer. The client expresses anger and resentment about their condition and questions the meaning of life. How should the nurse respond?
Explanation
The nurse should use open-ended questions to explore the client's feelings and beliefs about their condition and the meaning of life. This can help the client to express their emotions, identify their sources of strength and hope, and cope with their situation.
Incorrect options:
A) "You have every right to feel angry. This is not fair." - This is an empathic statement, but it does not encourage further communication or exploration of the client's feelings. It may also reinforce the client's negative emotions and sense of hopelessness.
B) "I understand how you feel. I have lost many loved ones to cancer." - This is an attempt to show empathy, but it is not appropriate to share personal experiences or compare the client's situation to others. This may make the client feel invalidated or minimized.
C) "Maybe you should talk to a spiritual counselor. They can help you find some peace." - This is a suggestion that may be helpful for some clients, but it should not be imposed on the client without assessing their willingness or preference for spiritual support. It may also imply that the nurse is avoiding the client's feelings or imposing their own beliefs.
A client who is in hospice care for end-stage heart failure tells the nurse that they are afraid of dying and what will happen after death. Which intervention is most appropriate for the nurse to implement?
Explanation
The nurse should assess the client's spiritual beliefs and values and provide support that is consistent with them. This can help the client to cope with their fears, find comfort and hope, and achieve a sense of closure.
Incorrect options:
A) Provide reassurance that death is a natural part of life and that they will not suffer. - This is a general statement that may not address the client's specific concerns or questions about death and the afterlife. It may also contradict the client's beliefs or expectations.
C) Administer prescribed sedatives or analgesics to relieve the client's anxiety or pain. - This is an intervention that may be necessary to manage the client's physical symptoms, but it does not address the underlying psychological or spiritual issues that are causing the fear of dying.
D) Refer the client to a mental health professional for counseling and therapy. - This is an intervention that may be beneficial for some clients, but it should not be done without assessing the client's readiness or preference for this type of support. It may also imply that the nurse is unable to handle the client's emotions or that the fear of dying is abnormal.
A nurse is conducting a psychosocial assessment of a client who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Which question should the nurse ask to assess the client's social support system?
Explanation
The nurse should ask about the people that the client can count on for help or comfort, such as family members, friends, neighbors, or community groups. This can help to identify the client's social support system, which is an important factor in coping with a terminal illness.
Incorrect options:
B) "How do you spend your free time when you are not in treatment?" - This is a question that can assess the client's hobbies, interests, or activities, but it does not directly address their social support system.
C) "What are some of the goals that you have for yourself and your family?" - This is a question that can assess the client's hopes, dreams, or plans, but it does not directly address their social support system.
D) "How do you cope with stress or difficult emotions?" - This is a question that can assess the client's coping strategies, but it does not directly address their social support system.
A client who is receiving palliative care for advanced lung cancer tells the nurse that they have lost their faith in God and feel abandoned and alone. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
Explanation
The nurse should acknowledge the client's feelings and use open-ended questions to explore their faith and how it has changed. This can help the client to express their doubts, fears, or anger, and to find meaning and hope in their situation.
Incorrect options:
B) "Don't say that. God loves you and has a plan for you. You just need to trust Him." - This is a response that may reflect the nurse's own beliefs, but it does not respect the client's feelings or perspective. It may also make the client feel guilty, judged, or misunderstood.
C) "Maybe you should try to pray more or read some inspirational books. They might help you feel better." - This is a response that may suggest some possible sources of comfort or guidance, but it does not address the client's feelings or concerns. It may also imply that the client is not doing enough to maintain their faith or that their faith is the cause of their distress.
D) "I can see that this is very hard for you. Would you like me to contact a chaplain or a spiritual leader for you?" - This is a response that may offer some professional support, but it does not explore the client's faith or how it has changed. It may also be premature or unwanted by the client without assessing their readiness or preference for spiritual assistance.
A nurse is providing education to a client who is considering hospice care for end-of-life care. Which statement by the nurse is accurate?
Explanation
Hospice care is a type of palliative care that provides comprehensive services to meet the needs of clients who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care aims to improve the quality of life of clients and their families by providing pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, bereavement counseling, and other services.
Incorrect options:
A) "Hospice care focuses on curing your disease and prolonging your life as much as possible." - This is an inaccurate statement, as hospice care does not focus on curing the disease or prolonging life, but rather on enhancing comfort and dignity.
C) "Hospice care requires that you give up all other treatments and medications for your condition." - This is an inaccurate statement, as hospice care does not require that clients give up all other treatments or medications, but rather that they accept that their condition is incurable and that they do not seek aggressive or futile interventions.
D) "Hospice care can only be provided in a hospital or a nursing home setting." - This is an inaccurate statement, as hospice care can be provided in various settings, including the client's home, a hospice facility, an assisted living facility, or a hospital.
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