End-of-Life & Palliative Care Flashcards

A palliative care patient tells the aide she is angry at God and questions why this is happening to her. The BEST response is to:

Answer: Listen quietly and acknowledge her feelings without judgment

Active, non-judgmental listening validates the patient's spiritual distress and supports emotional well-being.

Which physical sign indicates that death may occur within hours?

Answer: Mottling of the skin on the legs and feet

Mottling — a bluish-purple blotchy discoloration of the skin — is a sign of failing circulation and imminent death.

A hospice aide notices a dying patient's breathing has become irregular with long pauses. This pattern is called:

Answer: Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Cheyne-Stokes respiration — cycles of deep breaths followed by apneic pauses — is common in the final hours of life.

The primary goal of hospice care is to:

Answer: Provide comfort and quality of life

Hospice focuses on palliative comfort — relieving pain and symptoms — rather than curative treatment.

A family member asks the aide to keep the patient's terminal diagnosis secret from the patient. The aide should:

Answer: Report the situation to the supervising nurse for guidance

Withholding information involves ethical and legal considerations that must be handled by the supervising nurse or care team.

When providing mouth care to an unconscious dying patient, the aide should:

Answer: Use a moistened swab to keep lips and mucous membranes moist

Moistened swabs keep the mouth comfortable and prevent cracking without risking aspiration in an unconscious patient.

A dying patient has not eaten in three days. The family is upset and wants the aide to force-feed her. The aide should:

Answer: Explain that decreased appetite is normal at end of life and notify the nurse

Loss of appetite is a natural part of the dying process; the aide should educate the family and involve the nurse for further guidance.