Pain and Symptom Management Flashcards

Which of the following best describes 'terminal restlessness'?

Answer: Agitation, confusion, and purposeless movements occurring near the end of life

Terminal restlessness (also called terminal agitation) is a state of agitation, confusion, and involuntary movements that can occur in the final hours or days of life.

Mouth care in hospice is important primarily because:

Answer: It reduces xerostomia (dry mouth) and improves comfort

Regular mouth care helps relieve xerostomia (dry mouth), which is common in terminal patients due to reduced fluid intake and mouth breathing, improving overall comfort.

Which assessment tool is used to evaluate pain in non-verbal or cognitively impaired patients?

Answer: PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia) Scale

The PAINAD scale assesses pain in patients with advanced dementia by observing breathing, vocalization, facial expression, body language, and consolability.

When performing skin care for a hospice patient with edema, the nursing assistant should:

Answer: Handle the skin gently, keep it clean and dry, and report any skin breakdown

Edematous skin is fragile and at high risk for breakdown; gentle handling, keeping skin clean and dry, and promptly reporting any changes is essential.

What is 'Cheyne-Stokes' breathing?

Answer: A pattern of breathing with cycles of increasing and decreasing depth followed by periods of apnea

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a cyclical breathing pattern with gradual increases and decreases in depth and rate, interspersed with periods of apnea, often seen near death.

Which of the following is the nursing assistant's role in pain management?

Answer: Observing and reporting pain, providing comfort measures, and assisting with positioning

The nursing assistant observes and reports pain cues, applies non-pharmacological comfort measures, and assists with positioning while the nurse manages medications.