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 C
Explanation
A. Administering pain medication before ambulation is an example of patient-centered care and pain management but does not specifically demonstrate fidelity, which relates to keeping promises and being trustworthy.
B. Stopping feeding when a client becomes short of breath is an appropriate response to prevent aspiration, but it is not an example of fidelity.
C. Telling a client she will return with a medication and following through with that commitment demonstrates fidelity by fulfilling a promise and showing reliability.
D. Dividing time and care between clients is part of effective time management, but it does not specifically represent fidelity, which emphasizes keeping promises to clients.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Providing postmortem care is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel, as it involves following established protocols and does not require clinical judgment.
B. Reinforcing discharge instructions requires clinical knowledge and assessment, making it inappropriate for delegation to an AP.
C. Interpreting deviations in a client's vital signs necessitates nursing judgment and clinical expertise, which an AP does not possess.
D. Inserting an NG tube is a skilled nursing procedure that requires assessment and decision-making, thus it should not be delegated to an AP.