DNR/Comfort Care Policy Suggestions/Samples

Flare, ASN, BSN · Oct 17, 2011

Overall, I think more info is needed. If this child is so terminal that comfort care and a DNR are necessary, then it probably isn't a good idea to send him/her to a germ factory like a school. I suppose that if the student is trying to have a normal life (even up to the end) that going to school would make sense, but in terms of care and comfort, things really need to be finely mapped out. Does the student require pain meds throughout the day? Is the student so medically frail that having to consider the DNR is a possibility? If the doctor and parent are serious about wanting a DNR, then they would need to provide the documents - otherwise, should the student go into some type of arrest, you would have to act and so would EMS. Be sure that the parents and doctor are clear on this point.

bergren · Oct 18, 2011

I was told by a researcher just about 2-3 years ago, that at that time there was no recorded death of a child at school who had a DNR - the majority of kids are usually too sick to come to school, and have been home for almost 2 weeks when they die.

AAP policy: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;105/4/878.pdf

NASN position statement: http://www.nasn.org/PolicyAdvocacy/PositionPapersandReports/NASNPositionStatementsArticleView/tabid/462/ArticleId/24/Do-Not-Resuscitate-Revised-2004

There are 3 articles in the Journal of School Nursing: - http://jsn.sagepub.com/

NH school guidelines: http://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/school_health/faq_dnr.htm

Mass school guidelines: http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=2154

Article: http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED457647.pdf