FREE Hospice and Palliative Nurse Questions and Answers

Question 1

What traits are connected to Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Pre-clinical and symptomatic phases

Answer

A more accelerated decline in older patients

Answer

Slow, irreversible organ failure

Answer

Lewy body deposits

Question 2

You are the nurse on call when a continuous care nurse calls to inform you that her patient's wife is quite worried since her patient has started to have "rattling" secretions. You are aware that the patient is actually dying because of the report. What would be the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Reposition patient on his side

Answer

Suction the patient

Answer

Order oxygen for the patient

Answer

Administer furosemide

Question 3

What traits are most frequently linked to end-stage renal disease?

Accepted Answer

10% or less of normal renal function exists; consequence of diabetes

Answer

Affects Hispanic population disproportionately; symptoms include polyuria

Answer

20% or less of normal renal function exists; consequence of coronary artery disease

Answer

Consequence of alcohol misuse; only treatment is dialysis

Question 4

Doris is a 73-year-old patient who has been diagnosed with emphysema and has smoked for 50 years. She has a barrel chest, is quite slender, and occasionally experiences both resting and exertional dyspnea as well as supraclavicular retractions. What non-pharmacologic treatment would most likely help this patient's dyspnea?

Accepted Answer

Positioning in the tripod position

Answer

Guided imagery

Answer

Lowering the head of the bed

Answer

Slow, deep meditative breathing through the nose

Question 5

Mason is a brand-new heart failure hospice patient. Mason claims to have put on six pounds since being released from the hospital three days ago. Mason reports feeling sick to his stomach and having a bad appetite, and the nurse observes that he has dependent peripheral edema 2+. What is the pathogenesis of Mason's heart disease in light of these findings?

Accepted Answer

Diastolic dysfunction, with poor ventricle filling

Answer

Decreased ejection fraction

Answer

Generalized organ perfusion failure

Answer

Systolic dysfunction, with poor cardiac output

Question 6

The first time a nurse encounters a patient. The nurse mentions a number of signs that are alarming for an acute stroke when introducing himself. What signs and symptoms point to an acute stroke?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty understanding speech and blurry vision

Answer

Vomiting and dyspnea

Answer

Generalized weakness and dysphagia

Answer

Hyperventilation and bowel incontinence

Question 7

Which of the following best represents the suffering that is a "breakthrough"?

Accepted Answer

Can occur as end-of-dose failure

Answer

An aspect of opioid pseudo-addiction

Answer

Associated with pathological fractures

Answer

Refers to a new psychological or spiritual insight

Question 8

When a patient is diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma that has metastasized to the liver and is surgically unresectable, which of the following is prescribed?

Accepted Answer

Temsirolimus

Answer

Nilotinib

Answer

Cetuximab

Answer

Fluorouracil

Question 9

Michelle is terminally ill from metastatic cancer of the head and neck. Her niece looks after her at home. She has been more agitated and restless during the past 24 hours, often trying to get out of bed and yelling for help. Which category of interventions would Michelle fit into the best right now?

Accepted Answer

Dim the lights in Michelle's room; administer haloperidol.

Answer

Transfer Michelle from home to an inpatient hospice unit; begin IV morphine.

Answer

Raise the head of Michelle's bed; obtain a 24-hour sitter.

Answer

Confine Michelle to bed; discontinue her neuroleptics.

Question 10

As she nears the end of her life, Heidi is receiving care from her spouse and grown children. She has been sleeping 16 to 20 hours a day for the past week, and she is only drinking small amounts of juice and water. Concerned that Heidi has suddenly become aware and made it plain that she needs to get up and line up with those who are waiting for her outside, her daughter contacts the nurse. The family is offended by Heidi's remarks, but Heidi finds solace in them. What kind of intervention would be best for this family?

Accepted Answer

Instruct the family that speaking in metaphors when patients near end of life is common, and that Heidi may be trying to communicate that she is ready to die.

Answer

Instruct the family to increase the pain medication dose that Heidi is receiving, as this is an indicator of pain

Answer

Instruct the family to increase the pain medication dose that Heidi is receiving, as this is an indicator of pain

Answer

Encourage the family to clearly state to Heidi that there are no people outside waiting for her