No code status

[RNTN2011]

The situation...travel nurse works in long term care facilities....encounters a resident who is 80 years old with multiple comorbidities deceased in her bed during the night. Travel nurse looks at chart to see if resident is a DNR or a full code. There is NO status listed on the chart. This is not an ER. Not an automobile accident on the side of the road. This is a resident who is in a long term care facility.  Where many family members bring their loved ones to receive care untill they die. This is midnight shift. There is only one other LPN in the facility.  No RN in the facility. What would you do? Start CPR immediately? Call DON? Call family member? 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

RNTN2011 said:

The situation...travel nurse works in long term care facilities....encounters a resident who is 80 years old with multiple comorbidities deceased in her bed during the night. Travel nurse looks at chart to see if resident is a DNR or a full code. There is NO status listed on the chart. This is not an ER. Not an automobile accident on the side of the road. This is a resident who is in a long term care facility.  Where many family members bring their loved ones to receive care untill they die. This is midnight shift. There is only one other LPN in the facility.  No RN in the facility. What would you do? Start CPR immediately? Call DON? Call family member? 

Not a thing.  This person has already drawn the getting to die peacefully in bed card.  Besides, you said the patient was already deceased.  

[toomuchbaloney]

Follow facility protocol and local law or ordinance for unexpected death outside of acute care facility.