,NU 176/NU176 Exam 4 | Geriatric Nursing (2026) Q&A |
Galen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of palliative care?
A) To cure the underlying disease
B) To relieve suffering and improve quality of life
C) To prolong life at all costs
D) To replace all curative treatments
Correct Answer: To relieve suffering and improve quality of life
Rationale: Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms, pain, and stress of a
serious illness. It aims to improve quality of life for both the patient and family. It
can be provided alongside curative treatment and is not limited to end - of- life care.
2. What is the primary difference between palliative care and hospice care?
A) Palliative care is only for cancer patients; hospice is for all diagnoses
B) Hospice requires a prognosis of 6 months or less; palliative care does not
C) Palliative care is provided only in hospitals; hospice is only at home
D) Hospice care focuses on cure; palliative care does not
Correct Answer: Hospice requires a prognosis of 6 months or less; palliative care
does not
Rationale: Hospice care is a specific type of palliative care for patients with a
terminal illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal
course. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, regardless of
prognosis, and can be combined with curative treatment.
3. Which of the following is a core principle of hospice care?
,A) The patient must be in a hospital to receive hospice
B) The family is not involved in care decisions
C) Care focuses on comfort and quality of life, not cure
D) Curative treatments are continued alongside hospice
Correct Answer: Care focuses on comfort and quality of life, not cure
Rationale: Hospice care emphasizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life when
curative treatment is no longer beneficial. It addresses physical, emotional,
spiritual, and social needs. The patient and family are central to care decisions.
4. Which Medicare benefit covers hospice care?
A) Medicare Part A
B) Medicare Part B
C) Medicare Part C
D) Medicare Part D
Correct Answer: Medicare Part A
Rationale: Medicare Part A covers hospice care for beneficiaries with a terminal
illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less. The hospice benefit includes nursing
care, physician services, counseling, medical equipment, and medications for
symptom management.
5. What is the primary purpose of an advance directive?
A) To document the patient's wishes for end - of- life care
B) To replace the medical record
C) To prescribe medications
D) To order diagnostic tests
, Correct Answer: To document the patient's wishes for end - of- life care
Rationale: Advance directives are legal documents that allow individuals to specify
their preferences for medical treatment if they become unable to make decisions.
They include living wills and durable power of attorney for healthcare.
6. Which document designates someone to make healthcare decisions for a patient
if they lose capacity?
A) Living will
B) Durable power of attorney for healthcare
C) Do not resuscitate order
D) Physician order for life - sustaining treatment
Correct Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
Rationale: A durable power of attorney for healthcare (also called healthcare proxy)
is a legal document that appoints a specific person to make medical decisions on
the patient's behalf if they cannot do so. A living will specifies treatment
preferences.
7. Which of the following is an example of a life - sustaining treatment that a patient
may refuse in an advance directive?
A) Antibiotics for a urinary tract infection
B) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
C) Pain medication
D) Oxygen for comfort
Correct Answer: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Rationale: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life - sustaining treatment that
patients may choose to refuse in an advance directive. Other life - sustaining
Galen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of palliative care?
A) To cure the underlying disease
B) To relieve suffering and improve quality of life
C) To prolong life at all costs
D) To replace all curative treatments
Correct Answer: To relieve suffering and improve quality of life
Rationale: Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms, pain, and stress of a
serious illness. It aims to improve quality of life for both the patient and family. It
can be provided alongside curative treatment and is not limited to end - of- life care.
2. What is the primary difference between palliative care and hospice care?
A) Palliative care is only for cancer patients; hospice is for all diagnoses
B) Hospice requires a prognosis of 6 months or less; palliative care does not
C) Palliative care is provided only in hospitals; hospice is only at home
D) Hospice care focuses on cure; palliative care does not
Correct Answer: Hospice requires a prognosis of 6 months or less; palliative care
does not
Rationale: Hospice care is a specific type of palliative care for patients with a
terminal illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal
course. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, regardless of
prognosis, and can be combined with curative treatment.
3. Which of the following is a core principle of hospice care?
,A) The patient must be in a hospital to receive hospice
B) The family is not involved in care decisions
C) Care focuses on comfort and quality of life, not cure
D) Curative treatments are continued alongside hospice
Correct Answer: Care focuses on comfort and quality of life, not cure
Rationale: Hospice care emphasizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life when
curative treatment is no longer beneficial. It addresses physical, emotional,
spiritual, and social needs. The patient and family are central to care decisions.
4. Which Medicare benefit covers hospice care?
A) Medicare Part A
B) Medicare Part B
C) Medicare Part C
D) Medicare Part D
Correct Answer: Medicare Part A
Rationale: Medicare Part A covers hospice care for beneficiaries with a terminal
illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less. The hospice benefit includes nursing
care, physician services, counseling, medical equipment, and medications for
symptom management.
5. What is the primary purpose of an advance directive?
A) To document the patient's wishes for end - of- life care
B) To replace the medical record
C) To prescribe medications
D) To order diagnostic tests
, Correct Answer: To document the patient's wishes for end - of- life care
Rationale: Advance directives are legal documents that allow individuals to specify
their preferences for medical treatment if they become unable to make decisions.
They include living wills and durable power of attorney for healthcare.
6. Which document designates someone to make healthcare decisions for a patient
if they lose capacity?
A) Living will
B) Durable power of attorney for healthcare
C) Do not resuscitate order
D) Physician order for life - sustaining treatment
Correct Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
Rationale: A durable power of attorney for healthcare (also called healthcare proxy)
is a legal document that appoints a specific person to make medical decisions on
the patient's behalf if they cannot do so. A living will specifies treatment
preferences.
7. Which of the following is an example of a life - sustaining treatment that a patient
may refuse in an advance directive?
A) Antibiotics for a urinary tract infection
B) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
C) Pain medication
D) Oxygen for comfort
Correct Answer: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Rationale: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life - sustaining treatment that
patients may choose to refuse in an advance directive. Other life - sustaining
