The hospice nurse is caring for a 45-year-old mother of three young children in the patient's home

Question

During the most recent visit, the nurse has observed that the patient has a new onset of altered mental status, likely resulting from recently diagnosed brain metastases. What goal of nursing interventions should the nurse identify?
A) Helping the family to understand why the patient needs to be sedated
B) Making arrangements to promptly move the patient to an acute-care facility
C) Explaining to the family that death is near and the patient needs around-the-clock nursing care
D) Teaching family members how to interact with, and ensure safety for, the patient with impaired cognition

Answer 1

Ans: D
Feedback:
Nursing interventions should be aimed at accommodating the change in the patient's status and maintaining her safety. The scenario does not indicate the need either to sedate the patient or to move her to an acute-care facility. If the family has the resources, there is no need to bring in nurses to be with the patient around-the-clock, and the scenario does not indicate that death is imminent.