Patient Advocacy & Counseling Flashcards

A parishioner is being pressured by family to pursue aggressive cancer treatment against their own wishes. The parish nurse should FIRST:

Answer: Support the parishioner in clarifying their values and wishes and encourage completion of an advance directive

Helping the parishioner clarify and document their own wishes strengthens their autonomy and provides a legal framework for honoring those decisions.

Which statement BEST describes the concept of 'presence' in pastoral and parish nursing counseling?

Answer: Offering full, attentive engagement with the parishioner that communicates care and dignity

Therapeutic presence involves intentional, attentive engagement that honors the person's dignity and communicates genuine care.

A parish nurse discovers a congregation member is not taking prescribed medications due to cost. The BEST advocacy action is to:

Answer: Help the parishioner explore patient assistance programs, generic alternatives, and discuss the issue with their provider

Connecting parishioners to financial assistance programs and facilitating provider communication addresses medication adherence barriers within the advocacy role.

During a health screening event, a parishioner becomes emotional and begins sharing deep personal struggles. The parish nurse should:

Answer: Pause the screening, provide immediate supportive listening, and arrange a private follow-up meeting

Pausing to acknowledge and respond to emotional needs demonstrates holistic care and appropriate prioritization of the parishioner's well-being.

When a parishioner is being discharged from the hospital and the parish nurse believes the discharge plan is inadequate, the MOST effective advocacy step is to:

Answer: Communicate specific concerns to the hospital care team and request a care conference if needed

Direct communication of specific concerns with the healthcare team and requesting a care conference is the most effective and constructive advocacy approach.

A parishioner reports feeling spiritually abandoned after a significant health crisis. The parish nurse's counseling response should:

Answer: Explore the parishioner's spiritual distress with open questions and connect them with appropriate pastoral support

Exploring spiritual distress non-judgmentally and facilitating connection with pastoral resources addresses the spiritual dimension of health holistically.

In the context of parish nursing, 'referral' is BEST described as:

Answer: Connecting a parishioner with appropriate community, healthcare, or spiritual resources while maintaining supportive follow-up

Effective referral involves active connection to resources and follow-up support, not simply dismissing the parishioner to another provider.