CHPNA Spiritual and Psychosocial Support 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who on the hospice interdisciplinary team is primarily responsible for addressing spiritual needs?
- Nursing assistant
- Physician
- Chaplain or spiritual care counselor (Correct answer)
- Physical therapist
Correct answer: Chaplain or spiritual care counselor
The hospice chaplain or spiritual care counselor is trained to address spiritual needs, though all team members support holistic care and can alert the chaplain to patient needs.
Question 2: What is the nursing assistant's role in spiritual care?
- Lead prayer sessions for patients
- Observe and report spiritual concerns to the care team and provide respectful, non-judgmental presence (Correct answer)
- Prescribe spiritual activities
- Conduct religious rituals for the patient
Correct answer: Observe and report spiritual concerns to the care team and provide respectful, non-judgmental presence
Nursing assistants observe patients for signs of spiritual distress, provide non-judgmental presence, and report concerns to the supervising nurse or chaplain.
Question 3: Spirituality in palliative care is best described as:
- Only formal religious practice
- The dimension of life that relates to meaning, purpose, and connection—which may or may not include religion (Correct answer)
- Attendance at religious services
- A clinical symptom requiring medication
Correct answer: The dimension of life that relates to meaning, purpose, and connection—which may or may not include religion
Spirituality encompasses the search for meaning, purpose, and connection, and is broader than religion—it can be expressed in many forms regardless of religious belief.
Question 4: A patient expresses that they fear they have not lived a good life. This is best identified as:
- Physical pain
- Financial distress
- Spiritual distress (Correct answer)
- Cognitive decline
Correct answer: Spiritual distress
Expressing guilt, regret, or fear about one's life is a sign of spiritual distress and should be reported to the chaplain or nurse for appropriate follow-up.
Question 5: When a patient or family member requests a specific religious ritual, the nursing assistant should:
- Decide whether the ritual is appropriate
- Facilitate the request by notifying the nurse and chaplain, and accommodate as able (Correct answer)
- Decline all religious requests
- Only accommodate Christian requests
Correct answer: Facilitate the request by notifying the nurse and chaplain, and accommodate as able
The nursing assistant should respectfully facilitate religious and spiritual requests by notifying the appropriate team members and accommodating the patient's needs within policy.
Question 6: What is 'life review' in hospice care?
- A medical history assessment
- A process where the patient reflects on their life experiences, finding meaning and resolution (Correct answer)
- A psychological test
- A financial review for estate planning
Correct answer: A process where the patient reflects on their life experiences, finding meaning and resolution
Life review is a therapeutic process in which patients reflect on their life experiences and relationships, which can bring a sense of meaning, peace, and resolution near the end of life.
CHPNA Spiritual and Psychosocial Support 1
Who on the hospice interdisciplinary team is primarily responsible for addressing spiritual needs?