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HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 EDITION
HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: PHILOSOPHY & PRINCIPLES OF HOSPICE/PALLIATIVE CARE (Questions
1-25)
1. A hospice nurse is providing education to a family about the philosophy of
hospice care. Which of the following statements best describes the primary goal of
hospice care?
A. To cure the terminal illness
B. To prolong life at all costs
C. To provide comfort and quality of life
D. To provide aggressive treatment until the end
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and quality of life for
patients with terminal illnesses. Hospice does not aim to cure the illness (A) or prolong
life at all costs (B). Hospice focuses on comfort measures rather than aggressive
treatment (D).
2. A nurse is explaining the difference between hospice and palliative care to a
client's family. Which of the following statements is accurate?
A. Palliative care is only for patients with terminal illnesses
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B. Hospice care is provided only in the hospital
C. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness
D. Hospice care does not include symptom management
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, not just at
the end of life, and can be given alongside curative treatment. Hospice care is for
patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less (A is reversed). Hospice is provided in
various settings, not just hospitals (B). Hospice includes comprehensive symptom
management (D).
3. A hospice nurse is admitting a new patient. Which of the following is a
requirement for a patient to be eligible for hospice care?
A. The patient must have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
B. The patient must be expected to live 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal
course
C. The patient must be over 65 years of age
D. The patient must be receiving curative treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary eligibility requirement for hospice care is a prognosis of 6
months or less if the disease runs its normal course. A DNR order (A) is not required for
hospice. Age (C) is not a criterion. Curative treatment (D) is generally not provided
alongside hospice care.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving palliative care. Which of the
following best describes the purpose of palliative care?
A. To provide aggressive life-sustaining treatments
B. To prevent or relieve suffering
C. To promote recovery
D. To provide emotional support only
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: The primary purpose of palliative care is to prevent or relieve suffering
through comprehensive symptom management and support. It does not focus on
aggressive life-sustaining treatments (A) or recovery (C). While emotional support (D) is
a component, it is not the sole purpose.
5. A hospice nurse is discussing the interdisciplinary team with a new patient's
family. Which of the following professionals are typically part of the hospice
interdisciplinary team?
A. Physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain
B. Physician, nurse, pharmacist, respiratory therapist
C. Nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist
D. Social worker, chaplain, dietitian, physical therapist
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The hospice interdisciplinary team typically includes a physician, nurse,
social worker, and chaplain. Other professionals (pharmacist, dietitian, therapist) may
be involved as needed, but the core team is A. Respiratory therapy (B) and
physical/occupational therapy (C, D) are less central.
6. A hospice nurse is discussing the Medicare Hospice Benefit with a patient's
family. Which of the following is true about this benefit?
A. It covers curative treatments
B. It covers medications, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal diagnosis
C. It requires a co-payment for all services
D. It only covers inpatient hospice care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers medications, equipment, and supplies
related to the terminal diagnosis. It does not cover curative treatments (A). Most
services are covered without co-payment (C). It covers both inpatient and home care
(D).
7. A nurse is caring for a patient who is transitioning to comfort care. Which of the
following is the most appropriate nursing intervention?
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A. Continue all current medications
B. Discontinue all medications
C. Focus on symptom management and quality of life
D. Initiate aggressive life-sustaining treatments
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The focus of comfort care is symptom management and quality of life.
Continuing all medications (A) may not be appropriate if they are for curative purposes.
Discontinuing all medications (B) is not correct; some medications may still be needed.
Aggressive life-sustaining treatments (D) are not indicated.
8. A hospice nurse is educating a patient's family about the concept of "dying well."
Which of the following is a key component of dying well?
A. Pain-free death
B. Death in a hospital setting
C. Control over the dying process
D. Prolonging life at all costs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dying well involves having control over the dying process. Pain-free death (A)
is a goal but not the only component. Death in a hospital (B) is not necessarily dying
well. Prolonging life at all costs (D) is contrary to dying well.
9. A nurse is discussing the differences between hospice and palliative care. Which
statement indicates understanding?
A. "Hospice is a type of palliative care"
B. "Palliative care is only for cancer patients"
C. "Hospice requires curative treatments to be stopped"
D. "Palliative care is only provided at the end of life"
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hospice is a specific type of palliative care provided at the end of life.
Palliative care is not only for cancer patients (B). Hospice does require curative
HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 EDITION
HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: PHILOSOPHY & PRINCIPLES OF HOSPICE/PALLIATIVE CARE (Questions
1-25)
1. A hospice nurse is providing education to a family about the philosophy of
hospice care. Which of the following statements best describes the primary goal of
hospice care?
A. To cure the terminal illness
B. To prolong life at all costs
C. To provide comfort and quality of life
D. To provide aggressive treatment until the end
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and quality of life for
patients with terminal illnesses. Hospice does not aim to cure the illness (A) or prolong
life at all costs (B). Hospice focuses on comfort measures rather than aggressive
treatment (D).
2. A nurse is explaining the difference between hospice and palliative care to a
client's family. Which of the following statements is accurate?
A. Palliative care is only for patients with terminal illnesses
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B. Hospice care is provided only in the hospital
C. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness
D. Hospice care does not include symptom management
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, not just at
the end of life, and can be given alongside curative treatment. Hospice care is for
patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less (A is reversed). Hospice is provided in
various settings, not just hospitals (B). Hospice includes comprehensive symptom
management (D).
3. A hospice nurse is admitting a new patient. Which of the following is a
requirement for a patient to be eligible for hospice care?
A. The patient must have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
B. The patient must be expected to live 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal
course
C. The patient must be over 65 years of age
D. The patient must be receiving curative treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary eligibility requirement for hospice care is a prognosis of 6
months or less if the disease runs its normal course. A DNR order (A) is not required for
hospice. Age (C) is not a criterion. Curative treatment (D) is generally not provided
alongside hospice care.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving palliative care. Which of the
following best describes the purpose of palliative care?
A. To provide aggressive life-sustaining treatments
B. To prevent or relieve suffering
C. To promote recovery
D. To provide emotional support only
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: The primary purpose of palliative care is to prevent or relieve suffering
through comprehensive symptom management and support. It does not focus on
aggressive life-sustaining treatments (A) or recovery (C). While emotional support (D) is
a component, it is not the sole purpose.
5. A hospice nurse is discussing the interdisciplinary team with a new patient's
family. Which of the following professionals are typically part of the hospice
interdisciplinary team?
A. Physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain
B. Physician, nurse, pharmacist, respiratory therapist
C. Nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist
D. Social worker, chaplain, dietitian, physical therapist
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The hospice interdisciplinary team typically includes a physician, nurse,
social worker, and chaplain. Other professionals (pharmacist, dietitian, therapist) may
be involved as needed, but the core team is A. Respiratory therapy (B) and
physical/occupational therapy (C, D) are less central.
6. A hospice nurse is discussing the Medicare Hospice Benefit with a patient's
family. Which of the following is true about this benefit?
A. It covers curative treatments
B. It covers medications, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal diagnosis
C. It requires a co-payment for all services
D. It only covers inpatient hospice care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers medications, equipment, and supplies
related to the terminal diagnosis. It does not cover curative treatments (A). Most
services are covered without co-payment (C). It covers both inpatient and home care
(D).
7. A nurse is caring for a patient who is transitioning to comfort care. Which of the
following is the most appropriate nursing intervention?
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A. Continue all current medications
B. Discontinue all medications
C. Focus on symptom management and quality of life
D. Initiate aggressive life-sustaining treatments
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The focus of comfort care is symptom management and quality of life.
Continuing all medications (A) may not be appropriate if they are for curative purposes.
Discontinuing all medications (B) is not correct; some medications may still be needed.
Aggressive life-sustaining treatments (D) are not indicated.
8. A hospice nurse is educating a patient's family about the concept of "dying well."
Which of the following is a key component of dying well?
A. Pain-free death
B. Death in a hospital setting
C. Control over the dying process
D. Prolonging life at all costs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dying well involves having control over the dying process. Pain-free death (A)
is a goal but not the only component. Death in a hospital (B) is not necessarily dying
well. Prolonging life at all costs (D) is contrary to dying well.
9. A nurse is discussing the differences between hospice and palliative care. Which
statement indicates understanding?
A. "Hospice is a type of palliative care"
B. "Palliative care is only for cancer patients"
C. "Hospice requires curative treatments to be stopped"
D. "Palliative care is only provided at the end of life"
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hospice is a specific type of palliative care provided at the end of life.
Palliative care is not only for cancer patients (B). Hospice does require curative
