Which of following is true about palliative care?

RML Lucknow - 2021

Fundamental of Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RML Lucknow - 2021

Explanation

Palliative care is a holistic approach that focuses on improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses.
A core component of this care model is providing support not just to the patient but also to their family, addressing their physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs.
This support system is crucial throughout the course of the illness, helping families cope with the stress and challenges of caregiving.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.

Option B: Palliative care is not limited by age. It is provided to patients of all ages, from children to the elderly, who are facing serious illnesses.
Option C: The primary objective of palliative care is to provide comfort and improve quality of life, not to cure the underlying disease. This statement describes the goal of curative care.
Option D: The focus of palliative care is on patient comfort and honoring their goals. While vital signs may be monitored, they are not the most important aspect. Aggressive interventions to maintain vitals may be forgone if they cause distress or are against the patient's wishes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Principles of Palliative Care helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a vital role in advocating for palliative care, ensuring patients' and families' needs for comfort, dignity, and support are met.
It is a nursing responsibility to initiate conversations about goals of care and to educate patients and families about the benefits of palliative care, correcting misconceptions that it means 'giving up'.
What if the patient is still receiving chemotherapy? Palliative care is not mutually exclusive with curative treatment. It can be provided alongside treatments like chemotherapy to manage side effects (e.g., pain, nausea) and improve the patient's ability to tolerate treatment and maintain quality of life.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is 'palliative care'.
Read all the options carefully to understand the different aspects being presented.
Evaluate each option against the fundamental definition of palliative care. Recall that its primary goal is to improve the quality of life for patients and families by managing symptoms and providing support.
Option A directly aligns with this core principle of supporting both the patient and their family.
Analyze the other options to confirm they are incorrect. Option B introduces an incorrect age limitation. Option C confuses palliative care with curative care. Option D misrepresents the primary focus, which is comfort over aggressive medical intervention.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 4 p. 47-49