HLT 306 - Palliative Care| Questions with
100% Correct Answers
How can PSWs help with shortness of breath? - ✔️✔️Assist in positioning (e.g., fowlers).
Encourage slow, deep breathing.
Ensure the environment is calm.
Report to the healthcare team.
What can trigger nausea in palliative care? - ✔️✔️- Medications
- Pain
- Constipation
- Anxiety
How can PSWs help manage nausea? - ✔️✔️- Help the client sit upright after meals.
- Provide a cool cloth for comfort.
- Reduce strong odors in the room.
- Encourage slow sips of fluids if permitted.
- Report nausea episodes to the nurse.
What are signs of constipation in palliative clients? - ✔️✔️- No bowel movements for several days
- Abdominal bloating or discomfort
- Straining when trying to pass stool
How can PSWs assist with constipation? - ✔️✔️- Encourage fluid intake (if allowed).
- Promote mobility (if possible).
- Assist with toileting.
- Report bowel movement patterns to the nurse.
What are signs of delirium in palliative clients? - ✔️✔️- Sudden confusion or disorientation
- Hallucinations
- Restlessness or agitation
How can PSWs support a client with delirium? - ✔️✔️- Provide reassurance in a calm voice.
- Reduce noise and distractions.
- Offer familiar objects (e.g., family photos).
- Report changes in cognition (experiencing hallucinations) to the nurse.
What are common signs of fatigue in palliative clients? - ✔️✔️- Increased need for rest
- Low energy levels
- Difficulty staying awake
How can PSWs assist with fatigue? - ✔️✔️- Encourage rest periods.
- Help with light activities if the client wishes.
- Offer emotional support.
,- Ensure safety when moving or repositioning.
What are common signs that a client is actively dying? - ✔️✔️- Irregular or shallow breathing
- Cold hands and feet
- Increased sleeping or unresponsiveness
How can PSWs support a client in their final hours? - ✔️✔️- Provide a peaceful and comforting
presence.
- Offer mouth care for dryness.
- Support the family emotionally.
- Continue repositioning for comfort.
What is the CHSA Clinical Frailty Scale? - ✔️✔️Uses caregiver observations to identify a person's
level of frailty and risk of dying in the coming months and years.
"Very fit" is level 1.
"Severely frail" is level 7.
What is pain? - ✔️✔️Pain is a signal to the brain about tissue damage and is a whole-person
experience (physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain).
Most feared symptom of dying.
It is whatever the patient says it is.
Why is pain often untreated in older adults? - ✔️✔️Older adults at high risk for untreated
painbecause they may not report or be able to report
What are barriers to providing pain management? - ✔️✔️- A person with cognitive issues.
- A person with a hx of substance.
- A person whose cultural values restrict expression of pain.
- Underserved populations due to lack of location access, other cultural barriers, and language
barriers.
How can PSWs help with pain management? - ✔️✔️- Observe and recognize signs of pain.
- Document and report pain symptoms.
- Offer comfort measures.
- Advocate for the client's pain management needs.
*Pain management is part of providing culturally safe care.
What are common pain assessment tools? - ✔️✔️- PACSLAC II - Used for assessing pain in
clients (seniors) with dementia or communication difficulties.
- PAINAD - Measures pain through non-verbal signs (e.g., facial expressions, breathing, body
language).
- ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) - Indicates the presence of untreated, or
undertreated pain.
, What is the SBAR communication tool? - ✔️✔️A structured way to communicate pain concerns
with the healthcare team:
Situation - Describe the issue (e.g., pain symptoms).
Background - Provide relevant client history.
Assessment - Report observations (e.g., pain level, behaviors).
Recommendation - Suggest actions (e.g., reassess medication, comfort measures).
What are the principles for using pain medications? - ✔️✔️- It's easier to prevent pain than treat it
after it worsens.
- Medications should be consistent for pain control.
- Treat side effects to maintain comfort.
What is the PSW's role with pain medications? - ✔️✔️Observe if the medication is effective.
Record and report pain relief or side effects.
Ask the client:
"Did your symptom improve?"
"Did pain return before the next dose?"
Analgesics - ✔️✔️Treat pain
What are opioids used for? - ✔️✔️Pain medications; painkillers or narcotics.
Includes morphine, fentanyl, etc.
How do opioids work? - ✔️✔️They bind to pain receptors in the brain and reduce the sensation of
pain or breathlessness.
What is a breakthrough dose? - ✔️✔️An extra dose of pain medication given when regular doses
are not controlling pain.
What are common fears about opioids? - ✔️✔️- Constipation → Encourage fluids, fiber, and
laxatives.
- Nausea & vomiting → Use anti-nausea medications, small meals.
- Drowsiness → May adjust dosage if needed.
- Confusion & delirium → Monitor closely and report to the team.
- Dry mouth → Offer sips of water, oral care.
- Side effects
- Dependence and addiction
What are some non-medication ways to relieve pain? - ✔️✔️- Positioning - Reposition for
comfort.
- Massage & touch therapy - Gentle pressure to relieve tension.
- Heat/cold therapy - Warm blankets, cool cloths.
- Distraction techniques - Music, storytelling, guided relaxation.
- Mind-body techniques - Meditation, breathing exercises.
100% Correct Answers
How can PSWs help with shortness of breath? - ✔️✔️Assist in positioning (e.g., fowlers).
Encourage slow, deep breathing.
Ensure the environment is calm.
Report to the healthcare team.
What can trigger nausea in palliative care? - ✔️✔️- Medications
- Pain
- Constipation
- Anxiety
How can PSWs help manage nausea? - ✔️✔️- Help the client sit upright after meals.
- Provide a cool cloth for comfort.
- Reduce strong odors in the room.
- Encourage slow sips of fluids if permitted.
- Report nausea episodes to the nurse.
What are signs of constipation in palliative clients? - ✔️✔️- No bowel movements for several days
- Abdominal bloating or discomfort
- Straining when trying to pass stool
How can PSWs assist with constipation? - ✔️✔️- Encourage fluid intake (if allowed).
- Promote mobility (if possible).
- Assist with toileting.
- Report bowel movement patterns to the nurse.
What are signs of delirium in palliative clients? - ✔️✔️- Sudden confusion or disorientation
- Hallucinations
- Restlessness or agitation
How can PSWs support a client with delirium? - ✔️✔️- Provide reassurance in a calm voice.
- Reduce noise and distractions.
- Offer familiar objects (e.g., family photos).
- Report changes in cognition (experiencing hallucinations) to the nurse.
What are common signs of fatigue in palliative clients? - ✔️✔️- Increased need for rest
- Low energy levels
- Difficulty staying awake
How can PSWs assist with fatigue? - ✔️✔️- Encourage rest periods.
- Help with light activities if the client wishes.
- Offer emotional support.
,- Ensure safety when moving or repositioning.
What are common signs that a client is actively dying? - ✔️✔️- Irregular or shallow breathing
- Cold hands and feet
- Increased sleeping or unresponsiveness
How can PSWs support a client in their final hours? - ✔️✔️- Provide a peaceful and comforting
presence.
- Offer mouth care for dryness.
- Support the family emotionally.
- Continue repositioning for comfort.
What is the CHSA Clinical Frailty Scale? - ✔️✔️Uses caregiver observations to identify a person's
level of frailty and risk of dying in the coming months and years.
"Very fit" is level 1.
"Severely frail" is level 7.
What is pain? - ✔️✔️Pain is a signal to the brain about tissue damage and is a whole-person
experience (physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain).
Most feared symptom of dying.
It is whatever the patient says it is.
Why is pain often untreated in older adults? - ✔️✔️Older adults at high risk for untreated
painbecause they may not report or be able to report
What are barriers to providing pain management? - ✔️✔️- A person with cognitive issues.
- A person with a hx of substance.
- A person whose cultural values restrict expression of pain.
- Underserved populations due to lack of location access, other cultural barriers, and language
barriers.
How can PSWs help with pain management? - ✔️✔️- Observe and recognize signs of pain.
- Document and report pain symptoms.
- Offer comfort measures.
- Advocate for the client's pain management needs.
*Pain management is part of providing culturally safe care.
What are common pain assessment tools? - ✔️✔️- PACSLAC II - Used for assessing pain in
clients (seniors) with dementia or communication difficulties.
- PAINAD - Measures pain through non-verbal signs (e.g., facial expressions, breathing, body
language).
- ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) - Indicates the presence of untreated, or
undertreated pain.
, What is the SBAR communication tool? - ✔️✔️A structured way to communicate pain concerns
with the healthcare team:
Situation - Describe the issue (e.g., pain symptoms).
Background - Provide relevant client history.
Assessment - Report observations (e.g., pain level, behaviors).
Recommendation - Suggest actions (e.g., reassess medication, comfort measures).
What are the principles for using pain medications? - ✔️✔️- It's easier to prevent pain than treat it
after it worsens.
- Medications should be consistent for pain control.
- Treat side effects to maintain comfort.
What is the PSW's role with pain medications? - ✔️✔️Observe if the medication is effective.
Record and report pain relief or side effects.
Ask the client:
"Did your symptom improve?"
"Did pain return before the next dose?"
Analgesics - ✔️✔️Treat pain
What are opioids used for? - ✔️✔️Pain medications; painkillers or narcotics.
Includes morphine, fentanyl, etc.
How do opioids work? - ✔️✔️They bind to pain receptors in the brain and reduce the sensation of
pain or breathlessness.
What is a breakthrough dose? - ✔️✔️An extra dose of pain medication given when regular doses
are not controlling pain.
What are common fears about opioids? - ✔️✔️- Constipation → Encourage fluids, fiber, and
laxatives.
- Nausea & vomiting → Use anti-nausea medications, small meals.
- Drowsiness → May adjust dosage if needed.
- Confusion & delirium → Monitor closely and report to the team.
- Dry mouth → Offer sips of water, oral care.
- Side effects
- Dependence and addiction
What are some non-medication ways to relieve pain? - ✔️✔️- Positioning - Reposition for
comfort.
- Massage & touch therapy - Gentle pressure to relieve tension.
- Heat/cold therapy - Warm blankets, cool cloths.
- Distraction techniques - Music, storytelling, guided relaxation.
- Mind-body techniques - Meditation, breathing exercises.
