how to explain advance directives?

[lorenwithano]

hello,

though this may be simply explained, i am a new nurse and not really sure how to go about advance directives.

i work in a rehab facility, for typically the older population. and i really dont know how to go about explaining advance directives in a simplistic way. some of my patients have dementia or alzheimers and are their own person. anyway, i just have a hard time getting my wording right (and i feel like its a very personal subject so i get nervous and im tripping over my words in front of family members) and i am trying to figure out a way to explain.

any suggestions? :)

thanks.

[steelcityrn, RN]

Advanced directives is a ready made check list of what a patient may or may not want to have while activily dieing. This form must be given to the hospital with each admission, as a patient or family member(poa) might change their mind on a life saving measure.

[lorenwithano]

yes, i know what an advance directive is. my floor is slowly turning into rehab, so we have many admissions per week and i am still trying to figure out how to get my words right when i explain an advance directive and go through the check list. i dont want to sound morbid, but i want to sound like i know what im talking about.

[NurseShelly]

I don't know if this'll help, but here goes. Just like you said, I don't want to be morbid either, and these patients are already terrified in most cases. If I can, I'll tell them that "Nothing is expected to happen, but if in the event it does...." I then go in to explaining the advance directive if they don't have one already, and why its so important. I also let them know, that I am required to ask everyone being admitted into the hospital about whether or not they have an advance directive etc... I'm not an old pro, I've only been a nurse three years, and there are just some case where I'm still 100% comfortable addressing it either; but you'll get a little more comfortable with it over time.