Question

Which intervention is appropriate for a client receiving palliative care? Choose all that apply.

1)
Surgical insertion of a device to decrease the workload of the heart in a patient awaiting heart transplantation
2)
Administering IV dopamine to raise blood pressure of a patient with end-stage lung cancer
3)
Providing moisturizing eye drops to an unconscious patient whose eyes are dry
4)
Administering a medication to relieve the nausea of a patient with end-stage leukemia

Answer 1

In palliative care, the focus is on providing relief from symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients. Therefore, providing moisturizing eye drops to an unconscious patient and administering medication to relieve nausea in a patient with end-stage leukemia are appropriate interventions. Interventions like surgical device insertion or IV dopamine to raise blood pressure are generally not aligned with palliative care goals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate interventions for a client receiving palliative care aim to improve the patient's quality of life by managing symptoms and providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. The suitable options from the ones provided would be:

• Providing moisturizing eye drops to an unconscious patient whose eyes are dry
• Administering a medication to relieve the nausea of a patient with end-stage leukemia

The first choice, surgical insertion of a device, is inconsistent with palliative care objectives, as it is a curative intervention aimed at treating the condition rather than managing comfort. Similarly, administering IV dopamine to raise blood pressure focuses on extending life, which might not align with palliative care goals, especially if the patient is at the very end stage and such intervention does not contribute to comfort. In contrast, providing comfort measures such as moisturizing dry eyes and relieving nausea directly address the symptoms affecting the patient's quality of life and are consistent with palliative care principles.