A nurse is planning care for a client who has terminal cancer and is nearing the end of life. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Remind the client to eat scheduled meals daily.: As clients near the end of life, appetite naturally decreases due to metabolic changes and reduced physiologic demand. Encouraging scheduled meals can create discomfort or distress and does not improve outcomes. Supportive care focuses on comfort rather than forcing nutritional intake. B. Place the client in a supine position.: A supine position can worsen respiratory effort, increase the sensation of breathlessness, and promote secretion pooling. Terminal clients often breathe more comfortably in semi-Fowler’s or side-lying positions, which help ease ventilation and support comfort-based care. C. Offer the client a blanket to keep warm.: Clients at the end of life commonly experience decreased body temperature due to reduced circulation and metabolic slowing. Gently providing a blanket supports comfort without invasive measures. Maintaining warmth helps ease physical distress and aligns with palliative goals focused on dignity and relief. D. Speak in a loud tone when addressing the client.: Hearing is often the last sense to diminish, so speaking loudly is unnecessary and may startle or distress the client. A calm, soft voice preserves a peaceful environment and promotes emotional comfort, supporting both the client and family during end-of-life care.