Advanced Directive

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I hope this isn't medical advice but if it is please disregard.

I am having surgery next week in a different state than the one I live in. If I have an advanced directive for the state I live in will it be upheld in a different state or do I need to do one for the state i'm having surgery in?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You need to check with the facility you are going to or better yet your attending physician. Laws vary between states, including whether treating physician has to acknowledge advance directive in chart.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

The specifics of advance directives do indeed vary state to state. You should discuss this with your surgeon or the physician you will be admitted to following your surgery -- s/he will be the one to place an order regarding your code status.

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Thank you!

Since they're pretty easy to print out I just printed one for the other state and will bring both.

I'm not especially worried about anything but it is going to be brain surgery so you never know! (And as an ICU nurse I know what I DON'T want!)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You're generally better off discussing your wishes with the Physician rather than relying on advanced directives. In my state advanced directives mean very little, we can only recognize your designation of a POA, any directives made such as life sustaining treatment that were not made with a Physician aren't actionable.

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You're generally better off discussing your wishes with the Physician rather than relying on advanced directives. In my state advanced directives mean very little, we can only recognize your designation of a POA, any directives made such as life sustaining treatment that were not made with a Physician aren't actionable.

Interesting. I work in an ICU but I work peds so we don't deal with advanced directives much. Not sure I'll have time to discuss this before surgery but I'll try!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You could also discuss your wishes with whomever would be your default POA.

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Advance.

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Advance.

:specs: I see what you did there:woot:

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