A nurse enters a client's room and finds the client pulseless. The family has requested a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order from the provider, but he has not written the order yet. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Call the provider for a stat DNR order.
Start CPR and call the emergency response team.
Seek immediate help from the risk manager.
Respect the family's wishes and do nothing.
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. There is no time to wait for a DNR order in an emergency; immediate action is needed.
B. Without a written DNR order, the nurse is legally and ethically obligated to initiate CPR and call the emergency response team to attempt to save the client’s life.
C. Contacting the risk manager is not an immediate action that would benefit the patient in this emergency situation.
D. The family’s wishes cannot be respected in this scenario without a formal DNR order in place; thus, the nurse must perform CPR.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. There is no time to wait for a DNR order in an emergency; immediate action is needed.
B. Without a written DNR order, the nurse is legally and ethically obligated to initiate CPR and call the emergency response team to attempt to save the client’s life.
C. Contacting the risk manager is not an immediate action that would benefit the patient in this emergency situation.
D. The family’s wishes cannot be respected in this scenario without a formal DNR order in place; thus, the nurse must perform CPR.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. A coronary artery bypass graft is used to treat coronary artery disease but is not typically indicated for end-stage heart failure.
B. Percutaneous coronary intervention is also used for coronary artery disease, not for improving quality of life in terminal heart failure.
C. This option dismisses potential interventions that could improve quality of life, such as an LVAD.
D. An LVAD is a mechanical pump that assists the left ventricle in pumping blood, often used as a bridge to heart transplant or as a long-term solution to improve quality of life in patients with terminal heart failure.