Caregiver End of Life and Palliative Care 3

Question 1

Which of the following is a sign that a hospice resident has entered the active dying phase?

Accepted Answer

Irregular breathing with long pauses (Cheyne-Stokes)

Answer

Requesting multiple meals daily

Answer

Increased engagement and conversation

Answer

Strong grip strength in the hands

Question 2

A dying resident's family asks to perform a specific religious ritual at the bedside. How should the caregiver respond?

Accepted Answer

Accommodate the request to the extent possible and notify the nurse or social worker

Answer

Politely decline as religious rituals are not permitted in clinical settings

Answer

Tell the family they must wait until after the death to perform any rituals

Answer

Limit the ritual to no more than five minutes to respect other residents

Question 3

What does the term 'comfort measures only' mean in a resident's care plan?

Accepted Answer

Care is focused on relieving symptoms and maximizing comfort without curative or life-prolonging interventions

Answer

The resident receives treatment only for infections and acute illnesses

Answer

The resident will receive full resuscitation but no aggressive surgery

Answer

The resident should be kept comfortable by limiting all physical activity

Question 4

How should a caregiver respond when a dying resident says, 'I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be alone'?

Accepted Answer

Express empathy and ensure the resident has company as much as possible, including calling family

Answer

Tell the resident that the medical team will be with them constantly

Answer

Assure the resident that you will check on them every few hours

Answer

Refer the resident to the chaplain only and continue with other duties

Question 5

A resident enrolled in hospice is prescribed liquid morphine for pain. The caregiver observes the medication at the bedside. What should the caregiver do?

Accepted Answer

Report the medication's presence to the nurse but do not administer it

Answer

Administer the morphine if the resident appears to be in pain

Answer

Check the order and administer the prescribed dose according to the schedule

Answer

Ask the family if they think the resident needs the medication

Question 6

Which of the following statements best reflects the philosophy of palliative care regarding life extension?

Accepted Answer

Palliative care neither hastens nor postpones death but focuses on quality of life

Answer

Palliative care always prioritizes extending life over improving comfort

Answer

Palliative care includes euthanasia as a standard option for suffering patients

Answer

Palliative care discourages any medical intervention once a terminal diagnosis is made

Question 7

A resident's family becomes angry and confrontational with the care team, saying 'You're not doing enough for my mother.' How should the caregiver respond?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the family's distress, listen without judgment, and offer to involve the nurse or social worker

Answer

Argue with the family and defend the care team's decisions

Answer

Ignore the family and continue with care tasks

Answer

Tell the family to speak with the administrator tomorrow during business hours

Question 8

What is the role of the interdisciplinary team in hospice care?

Accepted Answer

Team members with different expertise collaborate to address all aspects of the patient's and family's needs

Answer

Each team member works independently with the patient and family without coordinating with others

Answer

The physician is solely responsible for all hospice care decisions

Answer

The interdisciplinary team role is limited to emergency situations only