A terminally ill patient refuses to eat or drink. What should the nurse's initial action be?

Enhance your understanding of Palliative and End-of-Life Care. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Get prepared for your test!

Multiple Choice

A terminally ill patient refuses to eat or drink. What should the nurse's initial action be?

Explanation:
Engage with the patient to understand their concerns and goals about eating and drinking. In end-of-life care, autonomy and comfort guide decisions, and a refusal often stems from symptoms, fears, or personal priorities rather than a simple choice to avoid nutrition. By discussing what the patient is experiencing—hunger, thirst, swallowing difficulty, nausea, cultural or spiritual beliefs, or fear of being a burden—the nurse can align care with the patient’s preferences. Provide comfort measures (oral care, moisture, small voluntary sips if desired) and address distress, while avoiding coercion, unnecessary interventions, or actions taken without the patient’s input. Involve the patient (and family or surrogate if needed) in decisions about continuing or forgoing nutrition and hydration and coordinate with the care team.

Engage with the patient to understand their concerns and goals about eating and drinking. In end-of-life care, autonomy and comfort guide decisions, and a refusal often stems from symptoms, fears, or personal priorities rather than a simple choice to avoid nutrition. By discussing what the patient is experiencing—hunger, thirst, swallowing difficulty, nausea, cultural or spiritual beliefs, or fear of being a burden—the nurse can align care with the patient’s preferences. Provide comfort measures (oral care, moisture, small voluntary sips if desired) and address distress, while avoiding coercion, unnecessary interventions, or actions taken without the patient’s input. Involve the patient (and family or surrogate if needed) in decisions about continuing or forgoing nutrition and hydration and coordinate with the care team.

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