HCA End-of-Life Care and Hospice Support 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of hospice care?
- To cure the patient's terminal illness through aggressive treatment
- To provide comfort and quality of life for patients who are dying (Correct answer)
- To extend the patient's life as long as medically possible
- To prepare the patient for transfer to a rehabilitation facility
Correct answer: To provide comfort and quality of life for patients who are dying
Hospice care focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than curative treatment for patients with terminal illness.
Question 2: According to the Kübler-Ross model of grief, which stage involves a patient trying to make deals with God or medical providers in hopes of a different outcome?
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining (Correct answer)
- Acceptance
Correct answer: Bargaining
Bargaining is the stage where patients attempt to negotiate — with God, fate, or doctors — hoping to delay or change their prognosis.
Question 3: A hospice patient reports increased pain to the HCA. What is the most appropriate first action?
- Administer an additional dose of the patient's pain medication
- Tell the patient to wait until the next scheduled medication time
- Report the complaint to the supervising nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Suggest the patient perform slow breathing exercises and rest
Correct answer: Report the complaint to the supervising nurse immediately
The HCA must report any change in patient condition, including new or worsening pain, to the nurse so that appropriate interventions can be ordered.
Question 4: Which legal document allows a patient to specify their wishes regarding end-of-life medical treatment in advance?
- An advance directive (living will) (Correct answer)
- A hospital admission consent form
- A HIPAA authorization form
- A physician's progress note
Correct answer: An advance directive (living will)
An advance directive (living will) is a legal document that records a patient's wishes about medical treatment should they become unable to communicate those wishes.
Question 5: What does the abbreviation DNR mean in a healthcare setting?
- Do Not Remove
- Do Not Resuscitate (Correct answer)
- Daily Nursing Record
- Do Not Refer
Correct answer: Do Not Resuscitate
DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate, meaning CPR and other resuscitative measures should not be performed if the patient's heart or breathing stops.
Question 6: Which of the following physical signs may indicate that a patient's death is imminent?
- Increased appetite and improved muscle strength
- Mottling of the skin and significantly decreased urine output (Correct answer)
- Improved orientation and increased alertness
- Stronger and more regular vital signs
Correct answer: Mottling of the skin and significantly decreased urine output
Mottling (blotchy skin discoloration due to poor circulation) and decreased urine output are late signs indicating the body's systems are shutting down.
Question 7: After a patient passes away, what should the HCA do first?
- Begin post-mortem care and prepare the body
- Call the patient's next of kin directly
- Notify the nurse or charge nurse of the death (Correct answer)
- Remove all equipment and supplies from the room
Correct answer: Notify the nurse or charge nurse of the death
The HCA must first notify the supervising nurse, who will then verify the death and follow facility protocol for next steps.
HCA End-of-Life Care and Hospice Support 1
What is the primary goal of hospice care?