NURS 3510 Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Palliative care definition - Answers Palliative care is an approach focused on providing comfort
and dignity for patients with chronic progressive illnesses. It aims to improve the quality of life
by addressing:
Pain and symptom management.
Social, psychological, emotional, and spiritual support.
Caregiver support
SPIKES method for palliative communication - Answers - S etting/situation: read clinical records,
ensure privacy, no interruptions.
- P erception: what do they know already? - make no assumptions.
-I nvitation: how much do they want to know?
- K nowledge: explain the situation; avoid jargon; take it slow. Avoid using phrases such as 'very
poorly' on their own - is the patient 'sick enough that they could die'? If they are that sick- say it.
- E mpathy: even if busy, show that you care.
-S ummary/strategy: summarize what you have said; explain the next steps
Five key priorities in caring for those dying - Answers Recognize - the possibility that the patient
is in the final hours or days of life is recognized and clearly communicated. Decisions are made
and actions taken in accordance with the person's needs and wishes, and these are regularly
reviewed and decisions revised accordingly.
Communicate - sensitive communication must take place between staff and the dying person,
and those identified as important to them.
, Involve - the dying person, and those identified as important to them, are involved in decisions
about treatment and care to the extent that the dying person wants.
Support - the needs of families and others identified as important to the dying person are
actively explored, respected and met as far as possible.
Plan and do - an individual plan of care, which includes food and drink, symptom control and
psychological, social and spiritual support, is agreed, coordinated and delivered with
compassion.
Key concepts responsibilities of palliative care - Answers Palliative care neither aims to hasten
nor postpone death.
It is appropriate for any life-limiting illness, including terminal illnesses, chronic progressive
diseases, or end-stage diseases.
Providing safe, ethical, compassionate, competent, evidence informed, advocation.
eligibility criteria for palliative care government funding - Answers A life-limiting illness likely to
cause death within six months.
The patient is no longer receiving aggressive disease-focused treatments like chemotherapy.
A focus on comfort, with a decision to decline resuscitation attempts.
Curative vs palliative care - Answers both can be delivered simultaneously, focusing more on
palliative as death draws nearer.
Curative: disease focused, goal is to cure the disease.
Palliative: centered around whole person care, goal is to improve quality of life, tailored to
patients values.
End of life care - Answers A subset of palliative care, focusing on the last stages of life.
Palliative care definition - Answers Palliative care is an approach focused on providing comfort
and dignity for patients with chronic progressive illnesses. It aims to improve the quality of life
by addressing:
Pain and symptom management.
Social, psychological, emotional, and spiritual support.
Caregiver support
SPIKES method for palliative communication - Answers - S etting/situation: read clinical records,
ensure privacy, no interruptions.
- P erception: what do they know already? - make no assumptions.
-I nvitation: how much do they want to know?
- K nowledge: explain the situation; avoid jargon; take it slow. Avoid using phrases such as 'very
poorly' on their own - is the patient 'sick enough that they could die'? If they are that sick- say it.
- E mpathy: even if busy, show that you care.
-S ummary/strategy: summarize what you have said; explain the next steps
Five key priorities in caring for those dying - Answers Recognize - the possibility that the patient
is in the final hours or days of life is recognized and clearly communicated. Decisions are made
and actions taken in accordance with the person's needs and wishes, and these are regularly
reviewed and decisions revised accordingly.
Communicate - sensitive communication must take place between staff and the dying person,
and those identified as important to them.
, Involve - the dying person, and those identified as important to them, are involved in decisions
about treatment and care to the extent that the dying person wants.
Support - the needs of families and others identified as important to the dying person are
actively explored, respected and met as far as possible.
Plan and do - an individual plan of care, which includes food and drink, symptom control and
psychological, social and spiritual support, is agreed, coordinated and delivered with
compassion.
Key concepts responsibilities of palliative care - Answers Palliative care neither aims to hasten
nor postpone death.
It is appropriate for any life-limiting illness, including terminal illnesses, chronic progressive
diseases, or end-stage diseases.
Providing safe, ethical, compassionate, competent, evidence informed, advocation.
eligibility criteria for palliative care government funding - Answers A life-limiting illness likely to
cause death within six months.
The patient is no longer receiving aggressive disease-focused treatments like chemotherapy.
A focus on comfort, with a decision to decline resuscitation attempts.
Curative vs palliative care - Answers both can be delivered simultaneously, focusing more on
palliative as death draws nearer.
Curative: disease focused, goal is to cure the disease.
Palliative: centered around whole person care, goal is to improve quality of life, tailored to
patients values.
End of life care - Answers A subset of palliative care, focusing on the last stages of life.
