How does your hospital identify DNR?

RNinSoCal · Jul 21, 2006

Hello,

1. We have to have an MD order first and foremost. 2. Then 2 RNs sign a sticker stating that we have verified the order with the time and date on it. This sticker is placed in the progress notes of the pt chart. 3. We then place a purple DNR/DNI band with the pt name on the pts arm. It just takes a few minutes and makes everthing clear to all staff. The last place I worked just required an MD order to place the DNR/DNI band. Hope that helps.

trjpw · Jul 21, 2006

RED BRACELET WITH A C OR AN "A" ON IT. (DNR "CC" OR DNR "A"REST):gandalf:

heather2084, BSN · Jul 21, 2006

we have stickers all over the chart, it's written on the kardex, and the patient wears a green armband. we use the red armbands for drug allergies

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

We don't identify patients who are DNRs in any special way. In my years in this facility it's never been an issue.

bethem · Jul 21, 2006

None of the hospitals in my area, whether public or private, openly identify DNR patients. We are told in handover whether someone is DNR, and it might be noted on the handover sheet. Obviously the DNR request is documented in the notes, but we don't have anything that would allow a visitor to the ward to identify a DNR patient. It just takes a little bit of remebering, that's all.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

purple armband-DNR

pink armband-limited resuscitation

orange armband-fall risk

yellow armband-allergies are noted on these

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

along with the usual dnr order in the orders/progress notes section of the chart, there is a sticker on the front of the chart and a special arm band on the patient. the sticker and order list whether the patient is a complete dnr or limited code and if limited, what efforts they want. the arm band is a different shade if the patient is a complete dnr versus a limited code.

this is a fairly new policy, and i'm not sure what happened to change it, but it seems to work. i've never heard of a patient in my hospital system being resused when they didn't want to be. however, i do remember when i was a new grad in a different facility, one of the nurses on a floor where i worked sent a patient to dialysis where they arrested, and the dialysis staff didn't realize she was a dnr, so they resused her. the family was very unhappy. i don't know if the floor nurse forgot to tell them, or if she told one dialysis nurse who didn't relay the info, or if they just forgot......but it was a very big deal.

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

yellow armband-allergies are noted on these

sorry to be a bit off-topic, but has anyone else noticed the allergy arm band falling out of favor? they have completly disappeared where i work, and i miss them. i like being able to glance at my patient's wrist and know what the allergies are.....especially if they are confused or sedated. somehow it isn't as reassuring looking it up in the chart.

jlayne · Jul 21, 2006

After the written order from Doc, we place a yellow wrist band on the patient, a yellow sticker on the outside of the chart as well as flag the original order and a sticker on the id plate. then its noted in numerous places in kardex, nurse to nurse reports and assessment charting.

psalm_55 · Jul 21, 2006

nurses wanted id bands at our facility -- but docs vetoed. docs felt that patient would receive less care.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2006

Since code status is considered so-called 'protected health information' at my facility, it can be found only in the MARs and at the very front of the charts. The first page of every patient's chart will either be bright red and read "DNR", or bright green and read "FULL CODE."