Chapter 24 Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 1
1. Hospice care includes services that are reasonable and necessary for the comfort and
management of a terminal illness. Which services might be included? (Select all that apply.)
A) Physician services
B) Nursing care
C) Long-term inclient pain control
D) Hospice aide services E) Social worker services Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
Hospice care services may include physician services, nursing care, hospice aide services, social
worker services, and short-term, not long-term, inclient care (for pain and symptom management).
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 2
2. The leading cause of death in 2010 was: A) Cerebrovascular disease
B) Chronic lower respiratory disease
C) Diabetes mellitus D) Heart disease Ans: D
Feedback:
In 2010, the 10 leading causes of death accounting for 80% of all deaths in the United States include,
in descending order, heart disease, malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower
respiratory disease, accidents, diabetes mellitus, influenza and pneumonia, Alzheimer disease, renal
disease, and septicemia.
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 3
Page 1
,3. The chart of a client with brain cancer notes “CMO.” Which intervention should the nurse most
expect this client to receive?
A) Chemotherapy for killing the cancer cells
B) Radiotherapy for reducing the size of the tumor
C) Morphine for pain management
D) Antibiotic to fight off an infection
Ans: C
Feedback:
Comfort measures only (CMO) indicates a plan of care that specifies nursing interventions designed
not to treat disease but to improve pain, function, or quality of life. Morphine for pain management
best fits this description. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are treatments for cancer and an antibiotic
is a treatment for infection.
Page 2
, Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 4
4. A living will is a document that:
A) Describes the client's wishes regarding treatment intended to sustain life
B) Designates someone to make medical decisions for the client if he or she is unable to do so
C) Permits someone access to the client's finances
D) Ensures appropriate end-of-life care
Ans: A
Feedback:
Living wills are documents in which clients describe their wishes regarding treatment intended to
sustain life. A healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare is a person designated to
make decisions for the client if he or she is unable to do so. The healthcare proxy is responsible for
medical decisions only if the client is unable to do this and does not have legitimate input into any
other areas of the client's affairs. Decision making around the time of death raises many legal and
ethical questions. Advance directives such as a living will can help with these question, though may
not necessarily represent a guarantee that the client's wishes will be carried out.
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 5
5. The nurse provides palliative care to a client with end-stage renal disease and a chronic upper
respiratory infection. Which interventions should be included in this type of care? (Select all that
apply.)
A) Providing the client with a foot massage
B) Administering ordered analgesics
C) Assisting with a kidney transplantation
D) Clearing secretions from the client's airway for easier breathing
Page 3
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 1
1. Hospice care includes services that are reasonable and necessary for the comfort and
management of a terminal illness. Which services might be included? (Select all that apply.)
A) Physician services
B) Nursing care
C) Long-term inclient pain control
D) Hospice aide services E) Social worker services Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
Hospice care services may include physician services, nursing care, hospice aide services, social
worker services, and short-term, not long-term, inclient care (for pain and symptom management).
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 2
2. The leading cause of death in 2010 was: A) Cerebrovascular disease
B) Chronic lower respiratory disease
C) Diabetes mellitus D) Heart disease Ans: D
Feedback:
In 2010, the 10 leading causes of death accounting for 80% of all deaths in the United States include,
in descending order, heart disease, malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower
respiratory disease, accidents, diabetes mellitus, influenza and pneumonia, Alzheimer disease, renal
disease, and septicemia.
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 3
Page 1
,3. The chart of a client with brain cancer notes “CMO.” Which intervention should the nurse most
expect this client to receive?
A) Chemotherapy for killing the cancer cells
B) Radiotherapy for reducing the size of the tumor
C) Morphine for pain management
D) Antibiotic to fight off an infection
Ans: C
Feedback:
Comfort measures only (CMO) indicates a plan of care that specifies nursing interventions designed
not to treat disease but to improve pain, function, or quality of life. Morphine for pain management
best fits this description. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are treatments for cancer and an antibiotic
is a treatment for infection.
Page 2
, Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 4
4. A living will is a document that:
A) Describes the client's wishes regarding treatment intended to sustain life
B) Designates someone to make medical decisions for the client if he or she is unable to do so
C) Permits someone access to the client's finances
D) Ensures appropriate end-of-life care
Ans: A
Feedback:
Living wills are documents in which clients describe their wishes regarding treatment intended to
sustain life. A healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare is a person designated to
make decisions for the client if he or she is unable to do so. The healthcare proxy is responsible for
medical decisions only if the client is unable to do this and does not have legitimate input into any
other areas of the client's affairs. Decision making around the time of death raises many legal and
ethical questions. Advance directives such as a living will can help with these question, though may
not necessarily represent a guarantee that the client's wishes will be carried out.
Origin: Chapter 24- Palliative and End-of-Life Care, 5
5. The nurse provides palliative care to a client with end-stage renal disease and a chronic upper
respiratory infection. Which interventions should be included in this type of care? (Select all that
apply.)
A) Providing the client with a foot massage
B) Administering ordered analgesics
C) Assisting with a kidney transplantation
D) Clearing secretions from the client's airway for easier breathing
Page 3
