End of Life and Spirituality

Question 1

Loss, dying, and death are?

Answer 1

Universal, incontestable events of human experience that cannot be stopped or controlled.

Question 2

Define Greif.

Answer 2

An individuals response to loss

Question 3

Define Loss.

Answer 3

Broadly considered to include anything that has meaning to the person

Question 4

Define Mourning.

Answer 4

Includes those behaviors used to incorporate loss into one’s life, influenced by social and cultural norms

Question 5

Define Bereavement.

Answer 5

The active and evolving process as one copes with grief.

Question 6

What are physical factors influencing the grieving process?

Answer 6

Concurrent medical conditions, use of sedatives, nutritional and exercise

Question 7

What are emotional factors influencing the grieving process?

Answer 7

Coping behavior and personality, previous experiences with loss/death, circumstances surrounding loss, presence of concurrent stress or crisis.

Question 8

What are social factors influencing the grieving process?

Answer 8

Support systems, educational, economic and occupational status, sociocultural, ethnic, religious or philosophic background.

Question 9

What are the 6 C’s of nursing actions that promote a good death?

Answer 9

Care, Control, Composure, Continuity, Closure, Communication

Question 10

Define Hospice

Answer 10

Affirm life, but never denies death. Recognizes dying as a normal process of life. Honors wishes, offers choices, brings commitment and compassion. Strengthens families. is about faith, hope and caring.

Question 11

What does an individual need to qualify for hospice care?

Answer 11

Serious progressive illness, limited life expectancy, Life expectancy physician certification of terminal illness

Question 12

Define Palliative Care

Answer 12

An approach to care which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threating illness, through the prevention, assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychological and spiritual problems.

Question 13

What is the goal of palliative care?

Answer 13

Improve the quality of life for patient and family

Question 14

When is palliative care appropriate?

Answer 14

At any time, when the reduction of suffering is the primary goal and can be combined with curative treatment.

Question 15

For patients with cancer, heart failure, stroke, COPD, and kidney failure, what can palliative care do.

Answer 15

Along with regular treatment, it can increase the life span for these individuals.

Question 16

What is the focus of palliative care?

Answer 16

Symptoms, Communication, and Finding the right services outside the hospital.

Question 17

What are emotional symptoms of approaching death?

Answer 17

Withdrawal, restlessness, unusual communication

Question 18

What are the physical symptoms of approaching death?

Answer 18

Coolness, Disorientation, increased sleeping, incontinence, noisy respirations, restlessness, decreased intake and output, altered breathing pattern

Question 19

Define euthanasia

Answer 19

someone other than the patient commits an action/omission with the intent to end the dying patients life to relieve suffering

Question 20

For long term feeding tubes, what type is used?

Answer 20

PEG Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Question 21

True or false, feeding tubes used at end of life care decrease aspiration, improve survival, and improve wound healing?

Answer 21

False

Question 22

Define Terminal sedation

Answer 22

Relief of refractory symptoms by whatever means necessary, even if doing so results in a hastened death.

Question 23

The intention of terminal sedation must be what?

Answer 23

To relieve suffering, not to evoke death

Question 24

Are palliative sedation and terminal sedation the same thing?

Answer 24

Yes

Question 25

What states have allow physician assisted suicide?

Answer 25

CA, OR, WA, VT, MO

Question 26

Describe Californias end of life option act.

Answer 26

Needs 2 oral requests no close than 15 days followed by a written request, attending and consulting dr must confirm diagnosis and prognosis. The patient must be informed regarding other options.

Question 27

When does CA end of life option act expire?

Answer 27

10 years

Question 28

What is the goal of a spiritual assessment at EOL.

Answer 28

Alleviate suffering by helping develop a sense of meaning to enable transcendence of current situation.

Question 29

When can spiritual healing occur in EOL?

Answer 29

When sources of pain are identified and specific interventions applied

Question 30

Instillation of what is a key caring aspect of the nurse/patient relationship?

Answer 30

Instillation of hope