The nurse is coordinating hospice care interventions for a client who is dying. Which of the following is the nurse's primary goal?
Explanation & Rationale
Hospice care is a palliative, end-of-life approach focused on optimizing comfort, dignity, and symptom relief for terminally ill clients. Care is directed toward supporting both the client and family through the dying process rather than attempting cure or restoration of function. Rationale: A. Curative measures are not part of hospice philosophy because hospice excludes disease-directed treatment aimed at cure. The focus is symptom control rather than reversing illness. Therefore curative intent is inconsistent with hospice goals. B. Peaceful death facilitation is the primary goal of hospice care, emphasizing relief of physical suffering, emotional support, and preservation of dignity for both client and family. Thus comfort-focused end-of-life care correctly defines hospice objectives. C. Early illness complication prevention reflects general palliative or preventive care rather than hospice, which is specifically for terminal stages with limited prognosis. Therefore preventive care focus does not represent hospice primary goals. D. Restorative treatments aim to improve function and recovery, which is not the intent of hospice care. Hospice prioritizes comfort rather than rehabilitation or recovery. Thus restorative intent is incorrect.