ELNEC Module 4

you are asking a nursing student to describe the assessment of a patient for dyspnea as part of end-of-life care. which statement by the student indicates an understanding of the BEST method to assess for dyspnea?

I will ask my patient about their breathing

which of the following patients are you MOST concerned may have undiagnosed depression?

a 71-year-old grandmother with pancreatic cancer who reports trouble sleeping, fatigue, and does not care to see her grandchildren on the weekends anymore

which of the following statements about dyspnea in patients at end of life is correct?

dyspnea may be relieved by a cool fan blowing on the patient

you are caring for a patient in end-stage renal disease. the patient has no apparent family or support systems. the patient is taking prescribed opioid analgesics for pain management yet continues to complain of feeling tired. the patient expresses that they wish all their suffering would end. which action should you take FIRST?

evaluate the patient further for depression and risk of suicide

mr. jones is struggling with fatigue from his advanced heart failure. which of the following interdisciplinary team members would be most helpful in managing this debilitating symptoms?

occupational therapy

you are developing a plan of care for a patient with cancer-related pain who is taking sustained-release morphine sulfate 30mg twice a day, along with 15mg of immediate release morphine sulfate every 3 hours as needed for breakthrough pain. which goal is important to include in the patient's plan of care?

patient will have a bowel movement at least once every three days

you are caring for an elderly woman who has severe osteoporosis and is suffering with bone pain from several spinal fractures. she is in bed most of the day, on a low dose opioid for the most recent fracture, and is not eating or drinking much. which of the following nursing interventions to prevent constipation is BEST?

recommend a physician order for a scheduled laxative and stool softener

you have been assigned to care for a woman who was recently admitted for advanced cancer, and who reports ongoing fatigue. her husband offers observations about his wife's fatigue. which statement by the husband indicates the most correct understanding of his wife's fatigue?

she's been in pain. if we control that maybe she'll have more energy

which of the following is the MAIN reason symptom management in older adults with serious illness is complicated?

they have multiple comorbidities

mr. Tate tells you that he is very worried about dying. he knows his disease is terminal and he only has a few months to live. he tells you he has done "some bad things" in his younger days and thinks God is going to make him suffer with pain now because of his past. after listening to his story, what is your BEST response?

would you like me to contact our chaplain? he's very good at helping people who have concerns like yours.