Question

A physician writes a DNAR order for a patient with end-stage lung cancer. You carry out the order and put a DNAR bracelet on the patient. The patient's son visits and comes to the nurses station. He asks you, "What does the new bracelet mean?" You explain the meaning of "do not attempt resuscitation." The son becomes visibly upset and states, "No one talked to me about this; don't I have any say so on my own parent's life?" What will you do? Whom will you contact? What will you do if the patient has a cardiopulmonary arrest right now?

Answer 1

Its is the responsibility of the nurse to handle this situation empathetically.

The first most important thing to be done is to explain and get the consent from the patient close relative by the duty doctor and then put the bracelet to avoid problems.This helps the patient son to cope with the situation both mentally and physically.

Inform him the necessity of palliative care rather than vigorous treatment

The Nurse Incharge or a Nurse Manager to be contacted

Call the duty Doctor to explain in brief to the patients son, to inform the reason behind the physician order ,to explain the suffering which the patient experiences out of the disease.

If the patient gets cardio pulmonary arrest , CPR alert can be given