A nurse is caring for a client who has gone into cardiac arrest. The client's chart indicates refusal of life-sustaining measures in a living will signed 10 years ago, but a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) prescription has not been written by the provider. Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate?
Contact the provider for instructions regarding a DNR.
Consult with the client's family regarding resuscitation efforts.
Comply with the living will and let the client expire naturally.
Call a code because a DNR prescription has not been written.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Contacting the provider for instructions could delay immediate resuscitative efforts, which are required in the absence of a DNR order.
B. Consulting with the client’s family may not be effective in an emergency, as the living will is a legal document, and family members cannot override it without a DNR order.
C. Complying with the living will and letting the client expire naturally would be inappropriate without a formal DNR order in place.
D. Calling a code is the correct action because, legally, resuscitative efforts must be initiated in the absence of a written DNR order from the provider, despite the existence of a living will.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Informing the charge nurse of the need to reassign the client’s care is unnecessary unless the nurse is unable to provide safe and competent care for the transfusion.
B. Obtaining informed consent is essential before a blood transfusion to ensure the client is aware of the procedure's purpose, benefits, and potential risks.
C. Delegating the client's care to another RN may be appropriate if the nurse lacks competence with transfusions, but obtaining consent is a priority.
D. Accessing the nursing information system for transfusion guidelines is helpful, but obtaining consent takes precedence before proceeding with the transfusion.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Establishing the priorities of client care is part of the planning phase, not the implementation phase.
B. Comparing laboratory values is an assessment activity that occurs before planning and implementing care.
C. Asking the client about pain is an assessment activity used to gather information rather than an implementation task.
D. Reinforcing teaching about the client's diagnosis is an action that occurs during the implementation phase, as it involves executing the care plan and providing direct client education.