DNR bracelet with DNR written on it. HIPAA???

[FireStarterRN]

I was at a committee meeting today. We discussed color coded bracelets that our hospital is considering. One of them is a blue bracelet for DNR patients. It was mentioned that they also want to write 'DNR' on it.

I feel strongly that this is a violation of patient privacy. It advertises to any visitor that the patient has made the decision to be a DNR. I was very vocal about my feelings regarding this. I was the only bedside nurse in the meeting. I think this is basically 'outing' the patient to the world. Many members of the public know what DNR means. It can cause dissension between family members, it can cause people with more extreme views regarding extension of life to make trouble for decision making family members, and it's making visable to any visitor the private information of the patient.

I feel strongly that a blue bracelet should suffice to communicate with members of the healthcare team and that adding DNR to the bracelet is wrong.

Any imput on this would be appreciated.

[sapphire18]

I thought that the national DNR color was purple? At least that's what the last 2 hospitals I worked at have said. The bracelets still say DNR on them, though.

[sauconyrunner]

I did not read all 9 pages, but just like posting isolation signs, posting a DNR sign bracelet etc in no way identifies the patient with any identifying information, and if it is attached to them...

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

While procrastinating next to a pile of laundry in need of ironing, I came across a great article: DNR in the OR: A Goal-directed Approach : Anesthesiology I agree that there must be a much better way to communicate a DNR order than a bracelet. There should be a way to communicate effectively among different staff, units, and agencies caring for a patient.

[lilajan]

Those who wear bracelets or other jewelry to identify a health issue, have made the choice to have that information on their person. It is their decision to have that information easily available for anyone to see in the event of an emergency.

I have had family members request we "not put all those stickers all over the place in the room" when their loved one had a DNR or AND status. As one lady stated "we know Momma is going to die, we just don't want it to be the first thing everyone sees when they come to visit." In our facility, DNR/AND stickers are posted with the chart and on the assignment sheet at the nursing station (well out of public view). In the ICUs those stickers are posted at the charting desk outside each room.