ACHPN Palliative Care Assessment and Diagnosis

Question 1

Which validated tool is most appropriate for conducting a comprehensive palliative care needs assessment in a hospice patient?

Accepted Answer

Palliative Performance Scale (PPS)

Answer

The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is a validated instrument widely used in hospice and palliative settings to assess functional status and guide care planning.

Question 2

When assessing dyspnea in a palliative care patient, which approach best reflects advanced practice nursing competency?

Accepted Answer

Use a patient self-report scale combined with clinical observation

Answer

Dyspnea is a subjective experience and is best assessed using patient self-report tools combined with clinical observation, as SpO2 does not correlate with perceived breathlessness.

Question 3

A patient with advanced COPD reports fatigue rated 8/10. Which assessment domain should the ACHPN prioritize next?

Accepted Answer

Psychological, spiritual, and social contributors to fatigue

Answer

Fatigue in palliative care is multidimensional, requiring assessment of psychological, spiritual, and social factors in addition to physical causes.

Question 4

Which finding on a palliative care assessment most strongly indicates a need for immediate goals-of-care conversation?

Accepted Answer

Functional decline to PPS 30% or below

Answer

A PPS score of 30% or below signals significant functional decline and typically indicates days-to-weeks prognosis, warranting urgent goals-of-care discussion.

Question 5

When performing a spiritual assessment using the FICA tool in a palliative patient, what does the 'A' stand for?

Accepted Answer

Address in care

Answer

In the FICA spiritual assessment tool, 'A' stands for 'Address in care,' exploring how spiritual needs should be incorporated into the patient's care plan.

ACHPN - Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Examination Practice Test

ACHPN - Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Examination Practice Test

ACHPN Palliative Care Assessment and Diagnosis