N480 Exam 2 Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Palliative care vs. End of Life care - Answers -Palliative care and end-of-life care are not synony-
mous terms.
-End-of-life care focuses exclusively on the immediate period around death, whereas pal- liative
care includes end-of-life care but extends for many months, even years (especially in children),
and can coexist with treatments aimed at curing an illness
True or False
Palliative care can be offered alongside care that is curative in intent - Answers True
At what point in the illness trajectory do the primary goals of care shift from curative to
palliative intent? - Answers This point often occurs when there are no available curative
treatments, or treatments are no longer effective or are associated with burden that is no longer
tolerable to the pa- tient.
When does palliative care begin? - Answers Palliative care begins as soon as there is a
diagnosis of life-limiting illness.
Bereavement - Answers a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved
one:
What is a major barrier to optimal palliative and end-of-life care? - Answers A major barrier to
optimal palliative and end-of- life care for patients and their families arises from the limited
formal education and training nurses receive
What are some nursing interventions that promote connections and trusting relationships? -
Answers Nursing interventions that promote connections and trusting relationships include the
following: careful listening to the family's experience with illness and suffering, asking good
questions that encourage family members' understanding of the differences in their
perspectives, demonstrating compassion by showing that you are touched by the family's
suffering, remaining nonjudgmental, offer- ing a new perspective or information through open
and honest communication, working with the family, acknowledging family strengths, and being
reliable and accessible.
What do dying people want? - Answers They want adequate 1) pain and symptom control, 2) to
avoid inappropriate prolongation of dying, 3) to achieve a sense of control, 4) to relieve burdens
for their loved ones, and 5) to strengthen relationships with loved ones
During the bereavement period, what follow up actions by the nurse do families tend to
appreciate? - Answers Follow-up activities that many families appreciate include calls, cards,
attendance at the funeral, and offers to make referrals to additional sources of support as
needed. They may appreciate written infor- mation on practical issues, such as what to do next,
, and about grief or other sources of support
How many months to live until patient receives hospice? - Answers <6 months to live
Difference between hospice and palliative care? - Answers -Palliative care-- a patient has a
disease that is life limiting but no specific time frame like with hospice.
-Hospice--patient has <6 months to live
When does palliative care begin? - Answers It can start long before end of life, as early as the
diagnosis of a life-limiting illness.
What is a "good" death? - Answers One that happens in alignment with patient and family
prefernces
What type of care is time-limited? - Answers End-of-life care
What type of care can last months to years? - Answers Palliative care
Interdisciplinary teams are used in palliative care. Who is at the center of the team? What role
does the nurse play - Answers -The family is the center of the team
-Nurses are often the *liasion* between team members
Struggles that family members as health care providers at home face? - Answers -when
administering medications --> fear of not enough or overdosing
-lack of support from health care professionals and friends/family
-loss of ability to work outside of home
A "good" death - Answers -symptom management
-clear decision making
-preparation for death
-contribution from others
-affirmation of the whole person
A "bad" death - Answers -lack of opportunity to plan ahead
-no opportunity to settle personal affairs
-high level of family burden
-no opportunity to say "good-bye"
Palliative care vs. End of Life care - Answers -Palliative care and end-of-life care are not synony-
mous terms.
-End-of-life care focuses exclusively on the immediate period around death, whereas pal- liative
care includes end-of-life care but extends for many months, even years (especially in children),
and can coexist with treatments aimed at curing an illness
True or False
Palliative care can be offered alongside care that is curative in intent - Answers True
At what point in the illness trajectory do the primary goals of care shift from curative to
palliative intent? - Answers This point often occurs when there are no available curative
treatments, or treatments are no longer effective or are associated with burden that is no longer
tolerable to the pa- tient.
When does palliative care begin? - Answers Palliative care begins as soon as there is a
diagnosis of life-limiting illness.
Bereavement - Answers a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved
one:
What is a major barrier to optimal palliative and end-of-life care? - Answers A major barrier to
optimal palliative and end-of- life care for patients and their families arises from the limited
formal education and training nurses receive
What are some nursing interventions that promote connections and trusting relationships? -
Answers Nursing interventions that promote connections and trusting relationships include the
following: careful listening to the family's experience with illness and suffering, asking good
questions that encourage family members' understanding of the differences in their
perspectives, demonstrating compassion by showing that you are touched by the family's
suffering, remaining nonjudgmental, offer- ing a new perspective or information through open
and honest communication, working with the family, acknowledging family strengths, and being
reliable and accessible.
What do dying people want? - Answers They want adequate 1) pain and symptom control, 2) to
avoid inappropriate prolongation of dying, 3) to achieve a sense of control, 4) to relieve burdens
for their loved ones, and 5) to strengthen relationships with loved ones
During the bereavement period, what follow up actions by the nurse do families tend to
appreciate? - Answers Follow-up activities that many families appreciate include calls, cards,
attendance at the funeral, and offers to make referrals to additional sources of support as
needed. They may appreciate written infor- mation on practical issues, such as what to do next,
, and about grief or other sources of support
How many months to live until patient receives hospice? - Answers <6 months to live
Difference between hospice and palliative care? - Answers -Palliative care-- a patient has a
disease that is life limiting but no specific time frame like with hospice.
-Hospice--patient has <6 months to live
When does palliative care begin? - Answers It can start long before end of life, as early as the
diagnosis of a life-limiting illness.
What is a "good" death? - Answers One that happens in alignment with patient and family
prefernces
What type of care is time-limited? - Answers End-of-life care
What type of care can last months to years? - Answers Palliative care
Interdisciplinary teams are used in palliative care. Who is at the center of the team? What role
does the nurse play - Answers -The family is the center of the team
-Nurses are often the *liasion* between team members
Struggles that family members as health care providers at home face? - Answers -when
administering medications --> fear of not enough or overdosing
-lack of support from health care professionals and friends/family
-loss of ability to work outside of home
A "good" death - Answers -symptom management
-clear decision making
-preparation for death
-contribution from others
-affirmation of the whole person
A "bad" death - Answers -lack of opportunity to plan ahead
-no opportunity to settle personal affairs
-high level of family burden
-no opportunity to say "good-bye"
