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 A
Explanation
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B. While initiating a 24-hour urine collection is important for monitoring kidney function, it does not require immediate action compared to the need for oxygen therapy in a client with respiratory distress.
C. Administering antibiotics is essential, especially for a client with an infection like MRSA; however, the need for immediate oxygen therapy takes precedence over medication administration.
D. Changing the dressing for a decubitus ulcer is important for preventing infection and promoting healing but is not as time-sensitive as ensuring adequate oxygenation for the client with COPD.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter can be performed by licensed practical nurses (LPNs) under the supervision of an RN, so this task does not need to be reassigned.
B. Administering heparin subcutaneously is a task that can be performed by LPNs, so it does not require reassignment to an RN.
C. Suctioning a client's new tracheostomy is a more complex procedure that requires advanced skills and assessment, making it appropriate for an RN rather than an LPN.
D. Classifying a pressure ulcer is a task that can be done by both RNs and LPNs, so it does not need to be reassigned.