A dying patient is being cared for at home. The family relates to ...

[Zoey63294]

A dying patient is being cared for at home. The family relates to the hospice nurse that they are distressed that the patient no longer wants favorite food items. What response by the nurse is best?
 
  a. Dying people don't usually want to eat.
  b. Your loved one won't starve to death.
  c. Why do you insist of trying to feed her?
  d. Is there another way you can show car-ing?

Question 2

An 80-year-old patient is concerned about contracting pneumoni
 
  a. The nurse educates her that the key to prevention is:
  a. early recognition of the symptoms.
  b. being vaccinated per government guide-lines
  c. minimizing contact with the public during the winter months.
  d. supplementing one's daily diet with vari-ous vitamin C sources.

[raenoj]

Answer to Question 1

D
Dying patients often have anorexia, and research shows that eating and drinking can actually in-crease distressing symptoms. However, the provision of food is universally seen as an act of car-ing and people place great emphasis on eating. The nurse can best help the family by helping them identify other ways to show caring. The other options do not give any useful information and could be seen as a cold response.

Answer to Question 2

B
The key to pneumonia prevention is being appropriately vaccinated. All individuals should be vaccinated at age 65 unless they have conditions that lead them to earlier vaccination. Revacci-nation is indicated in certain circumstances. Signs and symptoms are subtle in the aging popula-tion. Minimizing contact during winter months is an appropriate suggestion, just not the best one. Vitamin C may have immune system benefits.

[Zoey63294]

Excellent

[bulacsom]

TYSM