Question

The nurse suggests that a patient receive a palliative care consultation for symptom management related to anxiety and increasing pain. A family member asks the nurse if this means that the patient is dying and is now in hospice. What does the nurse tell the family member about palliative care?

A. Palliative care is only for patients in hospice.
B. Palliative care focuses on comfort and symptom management, not just end-of-life care.
C. Palliative care is reserved for patients with a specific prognosis.
D. Patients receiving palliative care must discontinue all other treatments.

Answer 1

Palliative care focuses on comfort and symptom management, not just end-of-life care. It is not limited to patients in hospice and can be provided at any stage of the illness. It does not require patients to discontinue all other treatments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should tell the family member that palliative care focuses on comfort and symptom management, not just end-of-life care. Palliative care is not limited to patients in hospice, as it can be provided to individuals at any stage of their illness, even if they are not nearing the end of life. It is also not reserved for patients with a specific prognosis and does not require them to discontinue all other treatments.