Palliative Care & Measures For Support
What does palliative care primarily focus on?
Relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.
What is the goal of pain management in palliative care?
Reduce pain to a level that allows for comfort and quality of life.
What is the first step in providing culturally competent care?
Becoming more self aware of one's own biases and attitudes.
How can the nurse educate the family during this time?
Tell them what to expect during the dying process in an easy to understand manner. May have to be repeated multiple times.
Can a nurse's self care affect the dying patient? T or F?
True
Which healthcare professional is most likely to provide spiritual and emotional support as part of palliative care team?
Chaplain or spiritual counselor
When a patient reports a sudden increase in pain, the recommended first step is to:
Assess the cause of the increased pain.
What does the spiritual assessment tool FICA stand for?
faith, influence, community, address
As a nurse, how do you support the family of a dying patient?
Active listening, address questions and concerns, provide emotional support and guidance.
What is the purpose of a nurse's self care?
Allows the nurse to manage their own physical, mental, and emotional well being.
A palliative care plan for a patient near the end of life includes?
Support for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
For patients unable to communicate verbally, which method is often used to assess pain?
Observing facial expressions, body language, and physiological indicators.
A patient's inability to feel hopeful or to foresee any favorable outcomes is in an indication of what?
Spiritual distress
What are some questions a nurse might ask the family of a dying patient?
How are you coping during this difficult time? What are your concerns about your loved ones care? Would you like to talk about your feeling regarding this situation? Do you need help accessing resources?
What negative effects can the nurse experience if they don't practice self care?
Neglecting self care can lead to stress, exhaustion, and fatigue, which affects performance and decision making.
How can palliative care support a patient's autonomy?
By involving the patient in making decisions about their care preferences and treatment goals.
What is a common side effect of opioid medications that needs to be managed in palliative care patients?
Constipation.
A patient with a terminal illness expresses a desire to discuss spiritual concerns. What would you do?
Refer the patient to a spiritual care provider or chaplain.
Be honest with the family, Reach out to a colleague with more experience in end of life care, such as a palliative nurse, social worker, or chaplain
How can a nurse practice self care while dealing with a dying patient?
Acknowledge their own emotions, allow themselves to grief, express their feeling to a support person, prioritize one's own needs
What is the primary reason for the involvement of family in palliative care planning?
To support the family members emotionally and prepare them for the patient's condition.
In assessing pain management outcomes, which factor is considered a successful indicator?
The patient reports a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in daily function.
How does a spiritual sense of peace benefit a dying patient?
Enables them to face death without fear.
Which interventions are likely to facilitate effective communication between a dying client and family?
1. Encourages the client and family to discuss feelings. 2. Assists in carrying out spiritual or religious practices. 3. Maintains a calm attitude and acceptance when the family or client expresses anger.
How can a nurse's self care positively impact the care given to dying patients?
Improved self awareness, reduced burnout, increased empathy, better overall care.