A nurse is caring for a patient in Portland, Oregon, who has a ...

[MirandaLo]

A nurse is caring for a patient in Portland, Oregon, who has a terminal illness.
 
  The patient tells the nurse that she has made a decision to end it all, that she has suffered enough and is considering asking her physician to prescribe medications to help her die. The nurse knows that the regulations for physician-assisted suicide include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
  a. A nurse or physician must be the one to administer the medications.
  b. The patient must have a prognosis of 6 months or less to live.
  c. The patient must be informed of all treat-ments and alternatives.
  d. The family of the patient must agree in writing to the patient's decision.
  e. The patient must have received counseling to ensure that she is fully informed of the risks.

Question 2

The daughter of a patient who has a chronic illness that has reached the terminal phase talks about the palliative care referral that the primary care provider made for her mother.
 
  Which of the following statements indicate that the daughter needs additional education about palliative care? (Select all that apply.)
  a. I know that palliative care is only availa-ble to people who have 6 months or less to live. That is really hard to cope with.
  b. My mom still can be actively treated while receiving palliative care.
  c. I understand that the palliative care team is made up of health care professionals of all different disciplines, not just doctors and nurses.
  d. The goal of palliative care is to prevent or to minimize suffering
  e. My mom will have to be transferred to a special unit in the hospital in order to re-ceive palliative care.

[juliaf]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B, C
The physician-assisted suicide laws in the states of Oregon and Washington have the following requirements: The individual must be a competent adult who is free of depression and who has a prognosis of less than 6 months to live. The patient must make two requests, both verbal and in writing, repeated in 15 days, and there must be two witnesses to the request; one must not be an heir, related, or employed by the health care facility caring for the patient. The patient must have been informed of alternatives and have received counseling to ensure that the person is fully in-formed regarding the risks of such actions. Neither physicians nor nurses are permitted to admin-ister the product used.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, E
While many individuals are not referred to palliative care until they are at the end of life, ideally, the earlier they are referred, the better. There is no time frame for referral regarding the point that they are in their illness. Palliative care is offered simultaneously with life-prolonging or stabilizing care for those living with chronic conditions. Palliative care uses an interprofessional model of care. Palliative care can be offered in any setting across the continuum of care and on any unit; it is a philosophy of care.

[MirandaLo]

Correct answers!

[juliaf]

Great! Please up vote