A nurse is assisting with the care of a client.

Nurses' Notes

1000

Client states, "I am tired of undergoing treatment because it doesn't seem to be working." Client states, "I hope I am just constipated." Appendectomy scar on right lower quadrant. Abdomen is soft, tender in right lower quadrant, bowel sounds present in all four quadrants.

1200

Surgeon has notified the client that surgical removal of the mass is advisable due to the client's history of metastasis and ongoing treatment failure. The client and their partner want to discuss end-of-life care. Client states, "I am unsure what it means to have a living will or a do-notresuscitate order." The client's partner states, " don't understand what power of attorney means. Both client and partner indicate that they might wish to decline further treatment as well as further fesaving measures should they become necessary. The partner states "How can we be sure that our decision about care will be honored?"

Select the 4 responsibilities the nurse has in relation to the client's advance directives.

The nurse is responsible for educating the client and their partner about advance directives and facilitating their decision-making process. Advance directives are legal documents that allow the client to express their preferences for medical care and treatments at the end of life. 

They also enable the client to appoint a health care proxy, who is a person who can make health care decisions for the client if they are unable to do so themselves. 

The nurse should provide the client with written information about advance directives, document that the provider discussed do-notresuscitate status with the client, and communicate advance directives status via the medical record and shift report. 

The nurse should not instruct the client that an advance directive is a legal document and must be honored by care providers, as this may imply coercion or limit the client's right to change their mind. 

The nurse should also not inform the client that an advance directive discontinues further care, as this is inaccurate and may discourage the client from completing one. 

The nurse should facilitate a power of attorney for health care document only if the client wishes to designate a health care proxy.