NUR 257 Palliative Care Exam Questions with
Correct Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1
Which statement best describes the primary goal of palliative
care?
A. To cure the underlying disease whenever possible
B. To prolong life regardless of the patient's preferences
C. To improve quality of life and relieve suffering associated
with serious illness
D. To discontinue all medical treatment
Rationale: Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life by
preventing and relieving suffering associated with serious
illness. It addresses physical, psychological, social, and spiritual
needs. Palliative care does not require discontinuation of
disease-directed treatment and is not limited to patients who
are actively dying.
Question 2
,Which patient is most appropriate for palliative care?
A. A healthy adult requesting routine health screening
B. A patient with a minor self-limiting illness
C. A patient with advanced heart failure experiencing
persistent symptoms
D. A patient recovering from an uncomplicated fracture
Rationale: Palliative care is appropriate for patients with serious
or life-limiting illnesses, including advanced heart failure,
cancer, renal disease, neurological disorders, and other chronic
conditions. The focus is on symptom relief, quality of life,
communication, and support for patients and families.
Question 3
Which principle is central to palliative nursing care?
A. Treating only physical symptoms
B. Avoiding discussions about death
C. Prioritizing institutional policies over patient preferences
D. Providing holistic, person-centered care
Rationale: Holistic palliative care recognizes that suffering may
have physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual
dimensions. Person-centered care incorporates the patient's
values, goals, preferences, beliefs, and definition of quality of
life into the care plan.
,Question 4
A patient with advanced cancer reports severe pain. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Administer a sedative
B. Tell the patient that pain is expected at this stage
C. Conduct a comprehensive pain assessment
D. Ask the family to determine the severity of the pain
Rationale: Pain assessment is the foundation of effective pain
management. The nurse should assess intensity, location,
quality, timing, aggravating and relieving factors, functional
effects, previous treatment, and the patient's own description of
the pain. The patient's report is an essential component of pain
assessment.
Question 5
Which statement about pain in palliative care is most accurate?
A. Pain is always proportional to the extent of tissue damage
B. Pain is primarily a physical sensation
C. Pain is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and
spiritual factors
D. Pain should be assessed only when the patient requests
medication
, Rationale: Pain is a multidimensional experience. Anxiety,
depression, fear, social circumstances, previous experiences,
cultural beliefs, spiritual distress, and physical disease can all
influence the perception and expression of pain. Therefore,
palliative pain assessment should be comprehensive and
individualized.
Question 6
A patient receiving an opioid for severe cancer pain develops
constipation. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Stop the opioid immediately
B. Restrict oral fluids
C. Anticipate constipation and implement a prescribed bowel-
management plan
D. Encourage complete bed rest
Rationale: Opioid-induced constipation is common because
opioids reduce gastrointestinal motility and secretions. Unlike
some opioid adverse effects, tolerance to constipation generally
does not develop adequately. Preventive bowel management,
appropriate fluid and dietary measures when suitable, activity
as tolerated, and prescribed laxatives are commonly required.
Question 7
Correct Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1
Which statement best describes the primary goal of palliative
care?
A. To cure the underlying disease whenever possible
B. To prolong life regardless of the patient's preferences
C. To improve quality of life and relieve suffering associated
with serious illness
D. To discontinue all medical treatment
Rationale: Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life by
preventing and relieving suffering associated with serious
illness. It addresses physical, psychological, social, and spiritual
needs. Palliative care does not require discontinuation of
disease-directed treatment and is not limited to patients who
are actively dying.
Question 2
,Which patient is most appropriate for palliative care?
A. A healthy adult requesting routine health screening
B. A patient with a minor self-limiting illness
C. A patient with advanced heart failure experiencing
persistent symptoms
D. A patient recovering from an uncomplicated fracture
Rationale: Palliative care is appropriate for patients with serious
or life-limiting illnesses, including advanced heart failure,
cancer, renal disease, neurological disorders, and other chronic
conditions. The focus is on symptom relief, quality of life,
communication, and support for patients and families.
Question 3
Which principle is central to palliative nursing care?
A. Treating only physical symptoms
B. Avoiding discussions about death
C. Prioritizing institutional policies over patient preferences
D. Providing holistic, person-centered care
Rationale: Holistic palliative care recognizes that suffering may
have physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual
dimensions. Person-centered care incorporates the patient's
values, goals, preferences, beliefs, and definition of quality of
life into the care plan.
,Question 4
A patient with advanced cancer reports severe pain. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Administer a sedative
B. Tell the patient that pain is expected at this stage
C. Conduct a comprehensive pain assessment
D. Ask the family to determine the severity of the pain
Rationale: Pain assessment is the foundation of effective pain
management. The nurse should assess intensity, location,
quality, timing, aggravating and relieving factors, functional
effects, previous treatment, and the patient's own description of
the pain. The patient's report is an essential component of pain
assessment.
Question 5
Which statement about pain in palliative care is most accurate?
A. Pain is always proportional to the extent of tissue damage
B. Pain is primarily a physical sensation
C. Pain is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and
spiritual factors
D. Pain should be assessed only when the patient requests
medication
, Rationale: Pain is a multidimensional experience. Anxiety,
depression, fear, social circumstances, previous experiences,
cultural beliefs, spiritual distress, and physical disease can all
influence the perception and expression of pain. Therefore,
palliative pain assessment should be comprehensive and
individualized.
Question 6
A patient receiving an opioid for severe cancer pain develops
constipation. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Stop the opioid immediately
B. Restrict oral fluids
C. Anticipate constipation and implement a prescribed bowel-
management plan
D. Encourage complete bed rest
Rationale: Opioid-induced constipation is common because
opioids reduce gastrointestinal motility and secretions. Unlike
some opioid adverse effects, tolerance to constipation generally
does not develop adequately. Preventive bowel management,
appropriate fluid and dietary measures when suitable, activity
as tolerated, and prescribed laxatives are commonly required.
Question 7
