Patient Advocacy & Counseling Flashcards

A parishioner with a terminal diagnosis refuses to tell family members about their condition. As a parish nurse, your BEST response is to:

Answer: Respect the parishioner's confidentiality while offering to facilitate communication if desired

Respecting patient autonomy and confidentiality is paramount while supporting the parishioner in making their own communication decisions.

When advocating for a parishioner who is experiencing language barriers in a healthcare setting, the parish nurse should FIRST:

Answer: Request a certified medical interpreter from the healthcare facility

Certified medical interpreters are trained to accurately convey medical information and protect patient confidentiality, making them the preferred resource.

A parish nurse is counseling a congregation member who is grieving a significant loss. Which therapeutic communication technique is MOST appropriate?

Answer: Using active listening and open-ended questions to explore the parishioner's experience

Active listening with open-ended questions allows the grieving person to express and explore their emotions without feeling judged or redirected.

A parishioner asks the parish nurse to attend a medical appointment as a support person and advocate. The nurse should:

Answer: Attend, help the patient formulate questions beforehand, and support their self-advocacy during the visit

Accompanying parishioners to appointments and supporting their self-advocacy aligns with the parish nurse role of health facilitation and advocacy.

In a counseling session, a parishioner discloses they are experiencing domestic violence. The parish nurse should FIRST:

Answer: Provide information about safety planning and available community resources

Providing safety information and resources empowers the victim while respecting their autonomy; the decision to involve authorities remains with the victim except in mandatory reporting situations.

Which of the following BEST describes the parish nurse's role when a parishioner is navigating a complex healthcare system?

Answer: Acting as a liaison who helps the parishioner understand options and access appropriate services

The parish nurse serves as a health facilitator and liaison, helping parishioners navigate systems while preserving their autonomy in decision-making.

A parishioner with dementia has a healthcare proxy but that proxy is making decisions the parish nurse believes are not in the patient's best interest. The MOST appropriate action is to:

Answer: Consult with the healthcare team and, if necessary, facilitate a care conference to address concerns

When proxy decisions raise concern, the parish nurse should facilitate interdisciplinary communication and advocate for the patient through proper channels rather than acting unilaterally.