End of Life

The family of a client diagnosed with terminal cancer is entering hospice care. Which statement made by the family member indicates to the nurse that the family understands the role of hospice?

• Hospice nurses are going to take care of him until he gets better.

• Hospice nurses are going to take care of him until he can take care of himself.

• Hospice nurses are going to take care of him to make him more comfortable.

• Hospice nurses are going to take care of him until providers find a cure.

A terminally ill client questions the nurse about the difference between an advanced directive (AD) and a medical power of attorney (MPOA) for healthcare. What is the nurse's best response?

• An AD will allow you to indicate treatments to be done when you are unable to communicate. The MPOA legally appoints someone to make those decision on your behalf.

• A lawyer creates an AD, while a family member assigns MPOA.

• The MPOA allows you to include what treatments you want to be carried out. An AD allows you to assign someone to make medical decisions.

• An AD mentions when you want to end life support. MPOA gives someone the power to end life support.

A family member asks how can we tell when the client's death time is close? What is the nurse's best response?

• People become more lucid, more alert.

• One just never knows.

• legs and arms become cool, breathing becomes irregular and the pulse and BP will decrease.

• Muscles become rigid, staring eyes with mouth open.

A hospice is for people facing ​​ (a) _______  illness.

• terminal

• minor

• infectious

Palliative care is mainly concerned with ​  ________

• comfort

• curing

The nurse is providing postmortem care for a client. Which intervention would be appropriate prior to allowing the family to visit? Select all that apply.

• Prepare the body to look as clean and natural as possible.

• Keep the sheet over the client's face.

• Remove external tubes and drains.

• Call the provider to verify if visits are allowed.