AOCNP Palliative Care and Symptom Management 3

Question 1

Which intervention is most effective for managing malignant bowel obstruction in a patient with poor prognosis who is not a surgical candidate?

Accepted Answer

Octreotide plus corticosteroids plus antiemetics

Answer

Octreotide reduces intestinal secretions, corticosteroids reduce perilesional edema, and antiemetics manage nausea — this triad palliates MBO without surgery.

Question 2

Methylnaltrexone (Relistor) treats opioid-induced constipation by:

Accepted Answer

Blocking peripheral mu-opioid receptors in the GI tract without reversing central analgesia

Answer

Methylnaltrexone is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist that reverses GI opioid effects without crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Question 3

Which prognostic tool is validated to estimate survival in weeks to months for palliative care patients?

Accepted Answer

Palliative Performance Scale (PPS)

Answer

The Palliative Performance Scale integrates ambulation, activity, self-care, oral intake, and consciousness to provide a validated survival estimate.

Question 4

Anticipatory grief is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Grief experienced before an expected loss occurs

Answer

Anticipatory grief occurs before the death and encompasses the losses already experienced and those expected, affecting both patients and families.

Question 5

Which measurement best indicates that a patient is at high risk of imminent death (hours to days) in the inpatient palliative setting?

Accepted Answer

Decreased urine output, mottling, irregular respirations, and unresponsiveness

Answer

Decreased urine output, mottled skin, irregular breathing patterns, and unresponsiveness are reliable clinical signs of imminent death within hours to days.

AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

AOCNP Palliative Care and Symptom Management 3