End-of-Life Care and Hospice Support Flashcards
7 cards from real HCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 End-of-Life Care and Hospice Support flashcards as text
A dying patient develops very noisy, congested breathing sometimes called the 'death rattle.' What is the most appropriate HCA response?
Answer: Reposition the patient, inform the nurse, and reassure the family that this is a normal dying process
Repositioning can help reduce the sound; the nurse should be informed, and family should be reassured this is a normal, expected part of the dying process and does not indicate distress.
Which of the following is NOT within the HCA's scope of practice in a hospice care setting?
Answer: Prescribing or independently adjusting pain medications
Prescribing or adjusting medications is outside the HCA's scope of practice and is reserved for licensed nurses and physicians.
A hospice patient tells the HCA they are afraid of dying. What is the HCA's best response?
Answer: 'I hear that you're scared, and I'm here with you. Would you like to talk about what's on your mind?'
Acknowledging the patient's fear, offering presence, and inviting conversation validates their feelings and provides therapeutic emotional support.
What is the purpose of a 'Do Not Hospitalize' (DNH) order for a hospice patient?
Answer: To indicate the patient does not wish to be transferred to a hospital for treatment
A DNH order is a patient's legal directive specifying they do not want to be transferred to a hospital for treatment, consistent with their wish to remain in the hospice or home setting.
After a hospice patient dies, how should the HCA handle the patient's personal belongings?
Answer: Collect and store them according to facility policy while documenting what was gathered
Personal belongings must be handled per facility policy, carefully inventoried, and documented to protect the patient's estate and the HCA from liability.
Which change in skin appearance in a dying patient indicates compromised circulation?
Answer: Bluish-purple blotchy discoloration of the skin (mottling or cyanosis)
Mottling and cyanosis are caused by reduced circulation and oxygenation, and are expected signs seen in patients who are actively dying.
The family of a dying patient asks the HCA what to expect in the final hours of their loved one's life. What is the best response?
Answer: Acknowledge their concern, explain that the nurse can best answer their questions, and offer to get the nurse
While the HCA can offer emotional support, specific prognostic information should come from the nurse or physician; the HCA should facilitate that communication.