Can an NP invoke health care proxy

Specialties NP

Published

In a LTC facility can a Nurse practitioner invoke the HCP or does that have to be from an MD. Can a NP determine if a person has capacity to make decisions or does that have to be a psychaitrist? Can a social worker write a note indicating that she thinks the resident lacks cognition in and can not make decisions?

I think in some cases its obvious the person cant make decisions but I have a person with mild dementia who wants CPR. The Nurse practitioner did a MOCA or MMSE or both and decided that because his short term memory was not intact, he had poor decision making capacity. Now his HCP is invoked and he is a DNR.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

Scope of practice regulations for NPs vary by state. In some states NPs can do this, in others they cannot, and yet in others MD/DO supervision is required.

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At my job, it requires the signature of two physicians, or a physician and a psychiatrist. No other disciplines are allowed to sign that document. I'm in Wisconsin, and I'm fairly certain that's the state law (not just our facility's policy); but I could be incorrect.

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