A nurse is caring for a client who is meeting with the palliative care team. After the meeting, the client's family asks for clarification about palliative care. Which statements about palliative care are accurate? Select all that apply. A)Palliative care focuses on quality of life and can be provided at any time B)Palliative care is only possible with a terminal diagnosis of ≤6 months C)Palliative care is provided by a multidisciplinary team D)Palliative care is another term for hospice care E)Palliative care provides relief from symptoms associated with chronic illnesses

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Palliative care is a model of treatment that involves managing symptoms, providing psychosocial support, coordinating care, and assisting with decision making to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for clients and families facing serious illnesses. An interdisciplinary palliative assessment team often includes nursing staff, chaplains, social workers, therapists, and nutritionists who work together on a comprehensive treatment plan. This model of care has been found to decrease unnecessary medical interventions and reduce depressive symptoms. Families of clients who receive palliative care interventions also experience lower rates of prolonged grief and post-traumatic stress disorder. (Option B) Palliative care is not limited to the last 6 months of life and can begin immediately after diagnosis of terminal disease (eg, advanced heart failure or cancer). (Option D) The main difference between palliative care and hospice is that clients receiving palliative care can receive concurrent curative treatment. Hospice care is only started once the client decides to forego curative treatment. Educational objective: Palliative care focuses on quality of life and symptom management (eg, pain, dyspnea, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, depression). It can be given concurrently with life-prolonging treatment in the setting of terminal disease. Palliative care is provided by a multidisciplinary care team with a focus on the clients and their families.

A Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Is Meeting