CHPN Education, Support, and Advocacy 5

Question 1

A hospice patient's POLST form indicates 'DNR/DNI.' During a home visit, the patient's family begins CPR. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Calmly stop CPR, explain the patient's wishes, and provide comfort-focused care

Answer

The nurse must uphold the patient's legal POLST directive by stopping CPR, educating the family calmly, and redirecting to comfort care.

Question 2

Which statement indicates a family member has understood teaching about the active dying phase?

Accepted Answer

'Changes in breathing and mottled skin mean the end is very near.'

Answer

Understanding that mottling and breathing changes are signs of imminent death, not reversible decline, is a key educational goal for families.

Question 3

A grieving widower tells the hospice bereavement counselor he is 'fine' but has lost 15 pounds and isolates himself. The team should:

Accepted Answer

Assess for complicated grief and depression and increase support contact

Answer

Significant weight loss and social isolation despite verbal denial of distress are red flags for complicated grief requiring closer assessment and support.

Question 4

When teaching a family about administering sublingual morphine to a non-swallowing patient, the nurse should emphasize:

Accepted Answer

Placing drops under the tongue and waiting for absorption without forcing swallowing

Answer

Sublingual administration relies on mucosal absorption; the family must understand drops are placed under the tongue and swallowing is not required or forced.

Question 5

Which action by the hospice nurse BEST demonstrates advocacy at the systems level?

Accepted Answer

Participating in policy review to improve access to palliative sedation for refractory symptoms

Answer

Systems-level advocacy involves influencing policies and practices that affect patient populations, not just individual patient care actions.

CHPN - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practice Test

CHPN - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practice Test

CHPN Education, Support, and Advocacy 5