End-of-Life & Palliative Care Flashcards
7 cards from real AAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 End-of-Life & Palliative Care flashcards as text
A nurse notices a late-stage Alzheimer's patient grimacing during position changes but the care plan lists no pain medication. The nurse should:
Answer: Document the grimacing and notify the physician for pain assessment and management
Facial grimacing during movement is a behavioral pain indicator that warrants formal assessment and physician notification to initiate appropriate analgesia.
Which of the following BEST explains why aspiration pneumonia is a common cause of death in late-stage Alzheimer's disease?
Answer: Progressive neurological decline impairs the swallow reflex
As Alzheimer's progresses, the brain loses control of swallowing, leading to aspiration of food, liquid, or secretions into the lungs and subsequent pneumonia.
When a surrogate decision-maker is unsure what care the person with Alzheimer's would want, the ethical standard the care team should guide them to use is:
Answer: Substituted judgment standard
Substituted judgment asks surrogates to choose what the patient themselves would have decided, based on their known values and prior statements, not what the surrogate thinks is best.
What is the PRIMARY role of palliative care earlier in the Alzheimer's disease trajectory (not just at end of life)?
Answer: To provide an extra layer of support for symptoms, communication, and goals of care alongside disease management
Early palliative care focuses on symptom management, clarifying goals of care, and supporting quality of life while other treatments continue, not replacing them.
Which of the following is an appropriate comfort measure for a dying Alzheimer's patient who is no longer able to swallow oral medications?
Answer: Transition to sublingual, transdermal, or subcutaneous medication routes
Sublingual drops, transdermal patches, or subcutaneous infusions allow effective symptom control when oral intake is no longer possible.
A family member expresses guilt saying 'I feel like I'm giving up' when discussing hospice enrollment for their father. The care team's BEST response is to:
Answer: Validate their feelings and explain that hospice is active, specialized care focused on quality of life
Reframing hospice as a proactive choice for comfort-focused expert care helps address common guilt and misconceptions without dismissing the family's feelings.
Which of the following respiratory symptoms is managed with low-dose opioids in end-of-life Alzheimer's care?
Answer: Dyspnea (air hunger)
Low-dose opioids are the evidence-based treatment for dyspnea at end of life, reducing the sensation of breathlessness without hastening death when dosed appropriately.