End of Life Quiz

A client diagnosed with a terminal illness appoints her oldest son as the authorized individual to make medical decisions on her behalf when she is no longer able to speak for herself. Which proxy directive is the patient using?

Durable power of attorney for health care

The nurse is caring for a client who is in the dying process. The nurse is reviewing orders to confirm that all is being done to meet client needs. Which additional nursing intervention may be helpful?

Reposition client every 2 hours.

A terminally ill patient is admitted to the hospital. The patient grabs the nurse's hand and asks, "Am I dying?" What response would be best for the nurse to give?

"Tell me more about what's on your mind."

Which is a sign of approaching death?

Irregular breathing patterns

A nurse is caring for a terminally ill client who is receiving chemotherapy and radiation for an aggressive lung cancer. The treatment success is limited in shrinking the tumor, and the treatments are making the client very ill. The client states, "I feel that I would like to stop treatments. I would like to enjoy the time that I have remaining with my family." Which emotional reaction does the nurse recognize that the client is experiencing?

Acceptance

Which action by the nurse demonstrates an effective method to assess the client and the client's family's ability to cope with end-of-life interventions?

Remaining silent, allowing the client and family to respond after asking a question related to end-of-life care

A family of a dying client reports that their loved one is experiencing more shortness of breath. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate at this time?

Call the health care provider to obtain an oxygen order

A type of comprehensive care for clients whose disease is not responsive to cure is:

palliative care.

Which of the following should the nurse report so that the team can consider alternative nutritional and fluid administration routes for a dying client?

Weight loss and inadequate food intake

The nurse in a pediatric ICU is caring for a child who is dying of sickle cell disease. The child's mother has been unable to eat or sleep and can talk only about her impending loss and the guilt she feels about the child's pain and suffering. What intervention has the highest priority?

Allowing the client to express her feelings without judging her