Deck 5: The Therapeutic Approach to the Patient With a Life-Threatening Illness

Question 1

Criteria that may identify an illness as AIDS includes which of the following?

A)Opportunistic infection
B)Tumor  
C)Severe body wasting
D)All of the above

Answer 1

All of the above

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of an Asian expression of pain?

A)General terms of relating the imbalance of the body  
B)Descriptive words such as piercing or throbbing  
C)Description of disturbances of the mind  
D)Describing pain on a scale of 1 to 10

Answer 2

General terms of relating the imbalance of the body  

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding patients with HIV/AIDS?

A)The lives of patients with AIDS are greatly compromised due to their suppressed immune system. 
B)Some physicians prefer to discuss this illness as early or later stage HIV rather than AIDS. 
C)HIV least affects individuals who are relatively young. 
D)Many physicians will use the term AIDS when CD4 counts decline to less than 200.

Answer 3

HIV least affects individuals who are relatively young. 

Question 4

Which of the following is the most appropriate therapeutic action of the medical assistant when a patient is estranged from his family?

A)Notify the patient's family. 
B)Notify the patient's friends. 
C)Give the patient referral for a local support group. 
D)Develop a personal friendship with the patient.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a definition of a life-threatening illness?

A)Terminal illness
B)Death imminent  
C)Disease causing shorter lifespan
D)Any acute disease

Question 6

In life-threatening illnesses, which of the following is considered the secondary patient?

A)Patient
B)Physician  
C)Medical assistant
D)Family and friends

Question 7

To which of the following categories of patients does the Patient Self-Determination Act pertain?

A)Patients in nursing homes  
B)Patients at personal homes  
C)Patients receiving care from Medicare/Medicaid institutions  
D)Patients receiving only hospice care

Question 8

Palliative care focuses on

A)medications and transfusions.
B)VSED choices. 
C)aid in dying.
D)relief of pain and stress.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT an appropriate issue to discuss with patients facing a life-threatening illness?

A)Alternative methods of treatment  
B)Health care directive and durable power of attorney  
C)Planning for friends' needs  
D)Discussing personal finances

Question 10

Which of the following is a likely treatment for cancer?

A)Surgery
B)Radiation  
C)Chemotherapy
D)b and c  
E)All of the above

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an expected patient response to the news of a life-threatening illness?

A)Acts as if the information has never been shared with them  
B)Drastically changes priorities  
C)Becomes happy and tells family and friends  
D)Quietly continue their lives, changing little outwardly

Question 12

Which of the following is a major disadvantage of not seeking care for an illness until it becomes very advanced?

A)It postpones the inevitable. 
B)The family can prepare without scaring the patient. 
C)The patient does not have to deal with death. 
D)Pain management and treatment may not work.

Question 13

Mrs.S.has just found out that her husband has a life-threatening illness and informs both you and the physician that under no circumstances are you to tell her husband about the prognosis.Which of the following best describes this example?

A)Secretive wife
B)Person who is afraid of the diagnosis  
C)Expression of cultural perspectives
D)Prejudice

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding patients with end-stage renal disease?

A)Kidney failure has a reputation for being a gentle death. 
B)Patients urine output increases. 
C)Patients with some urine output may live for months after stopping dialysis. 
D)Patients with no urine output are likely to die within a week or two.

Question 15

In the acronym TEAR, the "T" stands for which of the following?

A)To experience the pain of the loss
B)To adjust to what was lost  
C)To accept the reality of the loss
D)To reinvest in a new reality

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT one of Kübler-Ross's stages of grief?

A)Anger
B)Bargaining  
C)Demanding
D)Denial  
E)Acceptance

Question 17

Which of the following is a major fear of patients with a life-threatening illness?

A)Food
B)Unable to meet financial obligations  
C)Provider availability
D)Pain and loss of independence

Question 18

Which of the following is the most appropriate therapeutic response by the medical assistant to a patient with a life-threatening illness?

A)Capitalize on the patient's strengths. 
B)Build on the patient's own culture and coping abilities. 
C)Maintain hope. 
D)Show continued care and concern. 
E)All of the above

Question 19

Which of the following is the strongest influence in managing any patient's life-threatening illness?

A)Physician
B)Patient  
C)Hospice
D)Family and those closest to the patient

Question 20

Which of the following is the main reason for discussing patient's needs with the patient?

A)To give the patient power in dealing with the illness  
B)To provide the patient all the services he wants  
C)To make sure all referrals are made  
D)To give the family a patient "to do" list

Question 21

Identify the correct answer to the following statements.

allows an individual to make health care decisions for the patient when the patient is unable

A) living will or health care directive
B) durable power of attorney for health care
C) both

Question 22

Identify the correct answer to the following statements.

mandated by the Patient Self-Determination Act to be made available to patients

A) living will or health care directive
B) durable power of attorney for health care
C) both

Question 23

Identify the correct answer to the following statements.

used in making end-of-life decisions to prolong life

A) living will or health care directive
B) durable power of attorney for health care
C) both

Question 24

Identify the correct answer to the following statements.

should be copied and placed in the patient's medical chart that goes with the patient when she is admitted to the hospital

A) living will or health care directive
B) durable power of attorney for health care
C) both