A patient with a chronic illness asks the nurse if the new ...

[Lobcity]

A patient with a chronic illness asks the nurse if the new medication is going to cure the disease. Which is the nurse's best response?
 
  1. It will help you be more comfortable. I don't think it's going to cure the disease.
  2. Of course it's going to cure the disease.
  3. If you believe it will cure the disease, then it will.
  4. I don't think it's going to help or hurt at this time.

Question 2

A patient asks the nurse what it means to have hospice care at home. What should the nurse respond to this patient?
 
  1. Hospice makes sure that you are comfortable at home.
  2. Hospice care helps cure your illness.
  3. Hospice care is for patients who will be sick for longer than a year.
  4. Hospice care means your physical needs will be met.

[Sammyo]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1

In palliative care, the nurse needs to be honest with the patient and explain that the medication will help with comfort, but will not cure the chronic illness. The nurse should not approach care as curative because this could rob the patient of time and closure at the end of life. The nurse has no way of knowing whether the medication will help or hurt the patient.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1

Hospice care focuses on comfort care versus curative care. It is care for patients with limited life expectancy. The care plan includes both the patient and family/caregiver as the unit of care, and the care plan is written to meet their values and goals. Patients receiving hospice care are generally defined as those who have a prognosis of 6 months or less if their terminal disease runs a normal course.

[Lobcity]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[juliaf]

Gracias!