A terminally ill patient has been transferred from acute care to palliative care

Question

The health care team should review former orders for which characteristics? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Does the order comply with the patient's wishes?
2. Does this treatment provide symptom relief?
3. Does the treatment make the best use of resources?
4. Does the intervention support the patient's emotional health?
5. Does the intervention support the patient's spiritual health?

Answer 1

1,2,4,5
Rationale 1: In palliative care, the patient is in command. All interventions should comply with the patient's wishes about death and dying.
Rationale 2: If a treatment is not making the patient feel better, it is likely to be inappropriate in the palliative care setting.
Rationale 3: Resource utilization is always important in health care but takes on a lesser importance in palliative care.
Rationale 4: Any intervention that makes the patient anxious or uncomfortable should be revised or eliminated.
Rationale 5: Spiritual health does not imply religious dogma, but refers to the patient's philosophy, values, and understanding of the meaning of life. Any intervention that does not support these essential components should be revised or eliminated.