CHPN (CERTIFIED HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE NURSE) EXAM – PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS *
Patient Care: Pain Management - *
Patient Care: Non-Pain Symptom Management - *
Care of the Patient and Family: Grief - *
Education and Advocacy: Professional Practice - *
Life-Limiting Conditions: Adult Patients - *
, Communication and Collaboration - *
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations - *
INTRODUCTION *
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) examination is a
comprehensive *
assessment designed to validate the specialized knowledge and clinical
expertise of *
nursing professionals in the field of end-of-life care. This exam evaluates the
*
competency of nurses in managing complex physical, psychosocial, and
spiritual needs *
of patients facing life-limiting illnesses. The assessment utilizes a multiple-
choice *
and scenario-based structure to measure critical thinking, ethical decision-
making, *
, and the application of evidence-based palliative interventions. With a strong
focus *
on real-world application, the assessment ensures that practitioners can provide
*
high-quality, compassionate care while navigating the regulatory and
professional *
standards inherent in hospice and palliative environments. *
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A patient with end-stage COPD is experiencing acute dyspnea and anxiety.
Which of the following is the first-line pharmacological intervention
recommended in palliative care for the management of breathlessness?
A. Albuterol nebulizer
B. Lorazepam
C. Morphine sulfate
D. Oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula
🟢 C. Morphine sulfate
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Low-dose opioids, particularly morphine, are the gold standard for
treating the sensation of breathlessness in advanced disease by altering the
perception of dyspnea and reducing the respiratory drive.
2. A hospice nurse is visiting a patient who has just died. The family is present and
expresses a desire to wash the body as part of their cultural ritual. What is the
nurse’s most appropriate action?
A. Inform the family that the mortuary staff must perform all body preparation.
B. Assist and support the family in performing the ritual as they desire.
C. Explain that for hygiene reasons, only medical staff can handle the body.
D. Contact the physician to obtain a specific order for family involvement.
🟢 B. Assist and support the family in performing the ritual as they desire.
🔴 RATIONALE: Palliative care emphasizes culturally sensitive care and honoring
the family’s wishes and rituals surrounding death, provided they do not pose a direct
safety risk.
3. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the "Palliative
Performance Scale" (PPS)?
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS *
Patient Care: Pain Management - *
Patient Care: Non-Pain Symptom Management - *
Care of the Patient and Family: Grief - *
Education and Advocacy: Professional Practice - *
Life-Limiting Conditions: Adult Patients - *
, Communication and Collaboration - *
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations - *
INTRODUCTION *
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) examination is a
comprehensive *
assessment designed to validate the specialized knowledge and clinical
expertise of *
nursing professionals in the field of end-of-life care. This exam evaluates the
*
competency of nurses in managing complex physical, psychosocial, and
spiritual needs *
of patients facing life-limiting illnesses. The assessment utilizes a multiple-
choice *
and scenario-based structure to measure critical thinking, ethical decision-
making, *
, and the application of evidence-based palliative interventions. With a strong
focus *
on real-world application, the assessment ensures that practitioners can provide
*
high-quality, compassionate care while navigating the regulatory and
professional *
standards inherent in hospice and palliative environments. *
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A patient with end-stage COPD is experiencing acute dyspnea and anxiety.
Which of the following is the first-line pharmacological intervention
recommended in palliative care for the management of breathlessness?
A. Albuterol nebulizer
B. Lorazepam
C. Morphine sulfate
D. Oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula
🟢 C. Morphine sulfate
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Low-dose opioids, particularly morphine, are the gold standard for
treating the sensation of breathlessness in advanced disease by altering the
perception of dyspnea and reducing the respiratory drive.
2. A hospice nurse is visiting a patient who has just died. The family is present and
expresses a desire to wash the body as part of their cultural ritual. What is the
nurse’s most appropriate action?
A. Inform the family that the mortuary staff must perform all body preparation.
B. Assist and support the family in performing the ritual as they desire.
C. Explain that for hygiene reasons, only medical staff can handle the body.
D. Contact the physician to obtain a specific order for family involvement.
🟢 B. Assist and support the family in performing the ritual as they desire.
🔴 RATIONALE: Palliative care emphasizes culturally sensitive care and honoring
the family’s wishes and rituals surrounding death, provided they do not pose a direct
safety risk.
3. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the "Palliative
Performance Scale" (PPS)?
