Chapter 7 End-of -Life Care & PHIL
END-OF-LIFE CARE & ETHICAL
DILEMMAS Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
Which are direct causes of death? (select all that apply)
a. GI bleeding
b. Heart failure
c. Respiratory failure
d. Shock
e. Kidney failure - Correct answer-Bcd
The terminally ill patient has an advance directive living will, which states that she
does not want heroic measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and
intubation. She also has a do not resuscitate order in her chart written by the
provider. As the patient nears death, her daughter tells the hospice nurse that she
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,wants everything possible done to save her mother's life. What is the nurse's best
action?
a. Call a code and bring the crash cart to the patient's bedside.
b. Inform the health care provider of this change in the plan of care.
c. Respect the patient's wishes and ask the chaplain to stay with the daughter.
d. Inform the daughter that further interventions are futile. - Correct answer-C
Which statement regarding the approach to hospice/end-of-life care is correct?
a. Hospice programs only include provision of care in the home?
b. Admission to hospice is involuntary and directed by a health care provider's
order.
c. The focus is on facilitating quality of life just for the dying patient.
d. An interdisciplinary team approach is used for the care of the patient and family.
- Correct answer-D
A patient receiving nursing care in a home hospice program can expect which kind
of care?
a. The use of high-technology equipment such as ventilators until time of death.
b. Around-the-clock skilled direct nursing patient care until time of death.
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,c. Pain and symptom management that will achieve the best quality of life.
d. Complete relief of only distressing physical symptoms. - Correct answer-C
To qualify for hospice benefits, a criterion for admission is that the patient's
prognosis must be limited to what amount of time?
a. 2 weeks or less
b. 3 months or less
c. 6 months or less
d. 1 year or less - Correct answer-C
Which items are relevant to the concept of hospice? (select all that apply)
a. Unit of care is the patient and family.
b. Preferred location is the hospital setting.
c. Interdisciplinary team approach is used.
d. Focus is on alleviating pain and suffering.
e. Hospice care does not hasten death. - Correct answer-Acde
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, Which characteristics apply to the concept of palliative care? (select all that apply)
a. Patient must have less than a year to live.
b. Care time is not limited to specific periods of time.
c. Care focus is curative or may prolong life.
d. Care is provided when curative treatments have been stopped.
e. Patient can be in any stage of serious illness. - Correct answer-Bce
Which statements about the assessment of a terminally ill patient are true? (select
all that apply)
a. Assess only the patient; do not include the family's perception of the patient's
symptoms.
b. When the patient is unable to communicate, there is no need to assess symptoms
of distress any longer.
c. Assess patients who are unable to communicate distress by observing for
objective signs of discomfort.
d. Assess the patient for dyspnea, agitation, nausea, and vomiting only.
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END-OF-LIFE CARE & ETHICAL
DILEMMAS Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
Which are direct causes of death? (select all that apply)
a. GI bleeding
b. Heart failure
c. Respiratory failure
d. Shock
e. Kidney failure - Correct answer-Bcd
The terminally ill patient has an advance directive living will, which states that she
does not want heroic measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and
intubation. She also has a do not resuscitate order in her chart written by the
provider. As the patient nears death, her daughter tells the hospice nurse that she
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,wants everything possible done to save her mother's life. What is the nurse's best
action?
a. Call a code and bring the crash cart to the patient's bedside.
b. Inform the health care provider of this change in the plan of care.
c. Respect the patient's wishes and ask the chaplain to stay with the daughter.
d. Inform the daughter that further interventions are futile. - Correct answer-C
Which statement regarding the approach to hospice/end-of-life care is correct?
a. Hospice programs only include provision of care in the home?
b. Admission to hospice is involuntary and directed by a health care provider's
order.
c. The focus is on facilitating quality of life just for the dying patient.
d. An interdisciplinary team approach is used for the care of the patient and family.
- Correct answer-D
A patient receiving nursing care in a home hospice program can expect which kind
of care?
a. The use of high-technology equipment such as ventilators until time of death.
b. Around-the-clock skilled direct nursing patient care until time of death.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,c. Pain and symptom management that will achieve the best quality of life.
d. Complete relief of only distressing physical symptoms. - Correct answer-C
To qualify for hospice benefits, a criterion for admission is that the patient's
prognosis must be limited to what amount of time?
a. 2 weeks or less
b. 3 months or less
c. 6 months or less
d. 1 year or less - Correct answer-C
Which items are relevant to the concept of hospice? (select all that apply)
a. Unit of care is the patient and family.
b. Preferred location is the hospital setting.
c. Interdisciplinary team approach is used.
d. Focus is on alleviating pain and suffering.
e. Hospice care does not hasten death. - Correct answer-Acde
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Which characteristics apply to the concept of palliative care? (select all that apply)
a. Patient must have less than a year to live.
b. Care time is not limited to specific periods of time.
c. Care focus is curative or may prolong life.
d. Care is provided when curative treatments have been stopped.
e. Patient can be in any stage of serious illness. - Correct answer-Bce
Which statements about the assessment of a terminally ill patient are true? (select
all that apply)
a. Assess only the patient; do not include the family's perception of the patient's
symptoms.
b. When the patient is unable to communicate, there is no need to assess symptoms
of distress any longer.
c. Assess patients who are unable to communicate distress by observing for
objective signs of discomfort.
d. Assess the patient for dyspnea, agitation, nausea, and vomiting only.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
