A patient has a DNACPR decision in place. A colleague suggests stopping their pain relief and comfort care. Is this correct?

No; DNACPR applies only to CPR, and all other comfort care continues

Yes; DNACPR means no treatment at all

Yes; only fluids should continue

Only if the family agrees to stop care

A dying patient has distressing respiratory secretions. What reflects good care?

Anticipate and manage the symptom for comfort, using prescribed measures

Ignore it, as the patient is dying anyway

Withhold all medication near the end

Tell the family nothing can be done

A family asks the nurse honest questions about their dying relative. What is the best approach?

Communicate honestly and sensitively, at their pace, allowing questions

Give false reassurance that all will be fine

Avoid the conversation entirely

Refer every question elsewhere without responding

A dying patient has specific religious and cultural wishes about their care after death. What should the nurse do?

Respect and accommodate these wishes wherever possible

Follow standard procedure regardless of their wishes

Assume the wishes based on their background

Ignore them as they will not know

How should nutrition and hydration be approached for a person in the last days of life?

Offer them for comfort, guided by the person's wishes and tolerance, without force

Force full meals and fluids regardless

Withhold everything by mouth automatically

Only give what is quickest for staff

Part B4 of 8 Providing and Evaluating Care Chapter 52 of 75

End of Life Care Scenario Questions

NMC CBT end of life practice: comfort and dignity, symptom control, DNACPR, family and spiritual needs, and worked scenario answers.

Start reading ← Question bank outline ~5 min read

By JobLabs Editorial · UK healthcare reference editorial team

· July 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 17, 2026 · 2 min read

Caring for someone at the end of their life is among the most important things a nurse does, and it is judged less on technical skill than on compassion, honesty and attention to dignity. The CBT reflects that.

Comfort and dignity first

The goal of end of life care is comfort and dignity, tailored to the individual. That means anticipating and managing distressing symptoms, communicating honestly, and respecting the person’s and family’s wishes. It is active care, not a withdrawal of care, and the questions consistently reward the compassionate, individualised option.

The DNACPR misunderstanding

The single most tested point, and the one most often got wrong in practice, is what a Do Not Attempt CPR decision means. It applies only to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It does not stop any other treatment. Symptom control, comfort, hydration, personal care and dignity all continue exactly as before. A colleague who suggests stopping pain relief “because they are DNACPR” has misunderstood it, and the exam is checking that you have not.

Managing symptoms

Common end of life symptoms, pain, breathlessness, nausea, and respiratory secretions, are anticipated and treated for comfort. This often involves anticipatory medicines prescribed in advance, so relief is not delayed, and sometimes a syringe driver for continuous symptom control. Dismissing a symptom because the patient is dying is never right; comfort is the whole point.

Communication and wishes

Families need honest, sensitive communication at their own pace, with room to ask questions. False reassurance and avoidance both deny people the chance to prepare and can break trust. And the person’s religious, cultural and personal wishes, including care after death, are asked about and accommodated wherever possible, rather than overridden by routine or assumed from their background.

Nutrition and hydration shift too: food and drink are offered for comfort, as the person wishes and can tolerate, neither forced nor automatically withheld. Throughout, the individual’s comfort and choices lead. Next: post-operative care and recovery. Five end of life scenarios first.

Sources & further reading

Key takeaway from End of Life Care Scenario Questions

Frequently asked questions

Does a DNACPR decision mean stopping all treatment?

No. A Do Not Attempt CPR decision applies only to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. All other appropriate care continues, including symptom control, comfort, hydration and dignity. Assuming DNACPR means withdrawing care is a serious and common misunderstanding.

How are symptoms managed at the end of life?

Common symptoms like pain, breathlessness, nausea and respiratory secretions are anticipated and treated, often with anticipatory medicines prescribed in advance and sometimes a syringe driver for continuous relief. The aim is comfort, tailored to the individual.

How should nurses communicate near the end of life?

Honestly, sensitively and at the person's pace, giving the patient and family space to ask questions and express wishes. Avoiding the truth or false reassurance denies people the chance to prepare, while genuine, compassionate honesty supports them.

Check your understanding

Quick quiz: End of Life Care Scenario Questions

5questions. Click an answer to see the explanation. Your score is saved on this device only.

1
A patient has a DNACPR decision in place. A colleague suggests stopping their pain relief and comfort care. Is this correct?
A DNACPR decision means CPR will not be attempted. It does not stop any other care, and symptom control, comfort and dignity continue as normal. Treating DNACPR as a reason to withdraw all treatment is a serious and common error.
2
A dying patient has distressing respiratory secretions. What reflects good care?
Symptoms at the end of life are actively managed for comfort, including secretions, which can be treated with prescribed medicines and positioning. Dismissing symptoms because the patient is dying, or withholding comfort measures, is the opposite of good end of life care.
3
A family asks the nurse honest questions about their dying relative. What is the best approach?
Honest, sensitive communication at the family's pace helps them understand and prepare. False reassurance or avoidance denies them that, and can damage trust. Nurses support families through honest presence, not by dodging difficult conversations.
4
A dying patient has specific religious and cultural wishes about their care after death. What should the nurse do?
Respecting a person's religious and cultural wishes at and after death is central to dignified care. You ask about and accommodate their wishes, rather than imposing standard procedure, assuming from background, or dismissing them. Individualised, respectful care matters most here.
5
How should nutrition and hydration be approached for a person in the last days of life?
Near the end of life, food and drink are offered for comfort as the person wishes and can tolerate, not forced and not automatically withheld. The focus shifts to comfort and choice rather than targets, always guided by the individual.