Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care
NCLEX Style Questions
A tearful patient tells the nurse that her brother (who is in prison) just received a diagnosis of terminal
metastatic lung cancer. She is worried that her brother will die in pain and alone. What is the nurse's
best response?
A. "It's too bad that they don't have hospice services in prison."
B. "I'm sure the prison will let him out if they know he is dying."
C. "Maybe if he had not committed a crime, he wouldn't be in this situation."
D. "Many prisons offer health care services, including hospice and palliative care." *** D.
The family attorney informed a patient's adult children and wife that the patient did not have an
advance directive after he suffered a serious stroke. Who is responsible for making the decision about
EOL measures when the patient cannot communicate his or her specific wishes?
A. Notary and attorney
B. Physician and family
C. Wife and adult children
D. Physician and nursing staff *** C.
A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient receiving palliative care. The patient is experiencing severe
pain. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
A. Administering pain medication as prescribed
B. Encouraging the patient to tough it out for spiritual growth
C. Implementing distraction techniques to divert attention from pain
D. Discussing the possibility of a higher level of care with the patient *** A.
,A patient receiving end-of-life care expresses a fear of dying alone. What action should the nurse take?
A. Assure the patient that they will not die alone
B. Ignore the patient's fear to prevent distress
C. Recommend counseling services for the patient
D. Restrict visitation to avoid overcrowding *** A.
The children caregivers of an older patient whose death is imminent have not left the bedside for the
past 36 hours. In the nurse's assessment of the family, what findings indicate the potential for an
abnormal grief reaction to occur (select all that apply)?
A. Family cannot express their feelings to one another.
B. Dying patient is becoming more restless and agitated
C. A family member is going through a difficult divorce.
D. Family talks with and reassures the patient at frequent intervals.
E. Siblings who were estranged from each other have now reunited. *** A., C.
The nurse is providing palliative care to a patient who is in the last stage of cancer. What does the nurse
monitor in the patient as part of neurologic assessment? Select all that apply.
A. Urine output
B. Pupil response
C. Nutritional intake
D. Presence of reflexes
E. Level of consciousness *** B., D., E.
, The nurse finds that a terminally ill patient is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Which would be an
appropriate nursing action?
A. Encourage or provide three big meals rather than small frequent meals.
B. No action is required, as this issue is common during the last days of life.
C. Prevent family members from bringing home-cooked food, which might overwhelm the patient.
D. Administer antiemetic drugs before meals, as ordered. *** D.
The caregiver of a patient with chronic illness experiences grief after the death of the patient. The
caregiver recalls positive memories of the deceased patient, and the nurse notices that the caregiver is
accepting the reality of the death of the patient. What type of grief does the nurse identify in the
caregiver?
A. Adaptive grief
B. Anticipatory grief
C. Complicated grief
D. Prolonged grief disorder *** A.
A terminally ill patient has become confused, disoriented, and restless. The patient is incoherent and has
clouding of consciousness. The nurse identifies that the patient has had constipation for 3 days. What
action should the nurse take next?
A. Obtain a prescription for a benzodiazepine.
B. Administer laxatives to treat constipation.
C. Do not take any measures as this is normal during the terminal stage.
D. Inform the family members that the patient is breathing the last breaths. *** B.
NCLEX Style Questions
A tearful patient tells the nurse that her brother (who is in prison) just received a diagnosis of terminal
metastatic lung cancer. She is worried that her brother will die in pain and alone. What is the nurse's
best response?
A. "It's too bad that they don't have hospice services in prison."
B. "I'm sure the prison will let him out if they know he is dying."
C. "Maybe if he had not committed a crime, he wouldn't be in this situation."
D. "Many prisons offer health care services, including hospice and palliative care." *** D.
The family attorney informed a patient's adult children and wife that the patient did not have an
advance directive after he suffered a serious stroke. Who is responsible for making the decision about
EOL measures when the patient cannot communicate his or her specific wishes?
A. Notary and attorney
B. Physician and family
C. Wife and adult children
D. Physician and nursing staff *** C.
A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient receiving palliative care. The patient is experiencing severe
pain. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
A. Administering pain medication as prescribed
B. Encouraging the patient to tough it out for spiritual growth
C. Implementing distraction techniques to divert attention from pain
D. Discussing the possibility of a higher level of care with the patient *** A.
,A patient receiving end-of-life care expresses a fear of dying alone. What action should the nurse take?
A. Assure the patient that they will not die alone
B. Ignore the patient's fear to prevent distress
C. Recommend counseling services for the patient
D. Restrict visitation to avoid overcrowding *** A.
The children caregivers of an older patient whose death is imminent have not left the bedside for the
past 36 hours. In the nurse's assessment of the family, what findings indicate the potential for an
abnormal grief reaction to occur (select all that apply)?
A. Family cannot express their feelings to one another.
B. Dying patient is becoming more restless and agitated
C. A family member is going through a difficult divorce.
D. Family talks with and reassures the patient at frequent intervals.
E. Siblings who were estranged from each other have now reunited. *** A., C.
The nurse is providing palliative care to a patient who is in the last stage of cancer. What does the nurse
monitor in the patient as part of neurologic assessment? Select all that apply.
A. Urine output
B. Pupil response
C. Nutritional intake
D. Presence of reflexes
E. Level of consciousness *** B., D., E.
, The nurse finds that a terminally ill patient is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Which would be an
appropriate nursing action?
A. Encourage or provide three big meals rather than small frequent meals.
B. No action is required, as this issue is common during the last days of life.
C. Prevent family members from bringing home-cooked food, which might overwhelm the patient.
D. Administer antiemetic drugs before meals, as ordered. *** D.
The caregiver of a patient with chronic illness experiences grief after the death of the patient. The
caregiver recalls positive memories of the deceased patient, and the nurse notices that the caregiver is
accepting the reality of the death of the patient. What type of grief does the nurse identify in the
caregiver?
A. Adaptive grief
B. Anticipatory grief
C. Complicated grief
D. Prolonged grief disorder *** A.
A terminally ill patient has become confused, disoriented, and restless. The patient is incoherent and has
clouding of consciousness. The nurse identifies that the patient has had constipation for 3 days. What
action should the nurse take next?
A. Obtain a prescription for a benzodiazepine.
B. Administer laxatives to treat constipation.
C. Do not take any measures as this is normal during the terminal stage.
D. Inform the family members that the patient is breathing the last breaths. *** B.
