Spiritual and Psychosocial Support Flashcards

Which of the following is a sign of psychosocial distress in a hospice patient?

Answer: Social withdrawal, increased crying, expressions of hopelessness

Signs of psychosocial distress include withdrawal from relationships, increased tearfulness, expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness, and loss of interest in activities.

Who on the hospice team is most responsible for psychosocial support and assessing family dynamics?

Answer: Hospice social worker

The hospice social worker is trained to assess psychosocial needs, provide counseling, and support family dynamics and community resources.

What is the best way a nursing assistant can support a lonely hospice patient?

Answer: Provide companionable presence, engage in conversation, and report loneliness to the nurse

Providing caring presence, engaging in meaningful conversation, and reporting persistent loneliness to the nurse helps address the psychosocial needs of isolated patients.

Depression is common in hospice patients. The nursing assistant's role is to:

Answer: Recognize signs of depression and report them to the supervising nurse

While the nursing assistant cannot diagnose or treat depression, they play a vital role in recognizing symptoms and reporting them to the nurse for appropriate intervention.

The concept of 'dignity therapy' in palliative care focuses on:

Answer: Helping patients explore their life history and legacy to enhance sense of dignity and meaning

Dignity therapy is a psychotherapeutic intervention that helps patients reflect on their life, values, and legacy to maintain a sense of dignity and meaning near the end of life.

Anxiety in dying patients may be related to:

Answer: Fear of pain, the unknown, separation from loved ones, or unresolved issues

Anxiety in terminal patients is often linked to fear of pain, uncertainty about what dying feels like, fear of being separated from loved ones, and unresolved emotional or spiritual issues.