The nurse is caring for a dying patient. Which intervention is considered futile?
a. Giving pain medication for pain
b. Providing oral care every 5 hours
c. Administering the influenza vaccine
d. Supporting lower extremities with pillows
ANS: C
Administering the influenza vaccine is futile. A vaccine is administered to prevent or lessen the likelihood of contracting an infectious disease at some time in the future. The term futile refers to something that is hopeless or serves no useful purpose. In health care discussions the term refers to interventions unlikely to produce benefit for a patient. Care delivered to a patient at the end of life that is focused on pain management, oral hygiene, and comfort measures is not futile.
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