CHPNA Spiritual and Psychosocial Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a sign of psychosocial distress in a hospice patient?
- Calmly discussing plans
- Social withdrawal, increased crying, expressions of hopelessness (Correct answer)
- Sleeping the recommended hours
- Eating regular meals
Correct 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.
Question 2: Who on the hospice team is most responsible for psychosocial support and assessing family dynamics?
- Physician
- Hospice social worker (Correct answer)
- Nursing assistant
- Home health aide supervisor
Correct answer: Hospice social worker
The hospice social worker is trained to assess psychosocial needs, provide counseling, and support family dynamics and community resources.
Question 3: What is the best way a nursing assistant can support a lonely hospice patient?
- Leave them alone to rest
- Provide companionable presence, engage in conversation, and report loneliness to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Tell them to call a friend
- Focus only on physical care tasks
Correct 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.
Question 4: Depression is common in hospice patients. The nursing assistant's role is to:
- Diagnose and treat depression independently
- Recognize signs of depression and report them to the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Prescribe antidepressants
- Ignore emotional symptoms and focus on physical care
Correct 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.
Question 5: The concept of 'dignity therapy' in palliative care focuses on:
- Treating pressure injuries
- Helping patients explore their life history and legacy to enhance sense of dignity and meaning (Correct answer)
- Physical therapy exercises
- Medication management
Correct 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.
Question 6: Anxiety in dying patients may be related to:
- Too much sleep
- Fear of pain, the unknown, separation from loved ones, or unresolved issues (Correct answer)
- Excessive physical activity
- Overeating
Correct 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.
CHPNA Spiritual and Psychosocial Support 2
Which of the following is a sign of psychosocial distress in a hospice patient?