Question

The primary care provider wrote a DNR order. The nurse recognizes that which applies in the planning of nursing care for this client?

a. The client may no longer make decisions regarding his or her own health care.
b. The client and family know that the client will most likely die within the next 48 hours.
c. The nurses will continue to implement all treatments focused on comfort and symptom management.
d. A DNR order from a previous admission is valid for the current admission.

Answer 1

A DNR order specifies that no resuscitative efforts should be made if the patient's heart or breathing stops. Nurses will focus on comfort and symptom management for such patients, but a DNR does not prevent patients from making health care decisions nor predict imminent death.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a primary care provider writes a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, it means that no attempts will be made to restart the heart or respiratory function if the patient's vital functions cease. The statement 'The nurses will continue to implement all treatments focused on comfort and symptom management' accurately reflects the nursing care planning for a patient with a DNR order. This includes all the necessary interventions to ensure the patient's comfort without attempting to reverse the course of a life-threatening event should one arise. A DNR does not imply that the patient can no longer make decisions about their healthcare. Moreover, a DNR order does not suggest that death is imminent within a specific timeframe, such as 48 hours. Furthermore, it's important to note that a DNR order is generally not presumed to be valid across different admissions unless it is reaffirmed during the current hospital stay.