upurkilt

I applaud nurses advocating for their patients when they are unable to communicate for themselves. It appears from this post that this patient took the time to prepare in advance by putting a legal advance directive together. These documents are legally binding and unfortunately go unnoticed way too often. If a patient chooses to have no cpr and to be kept comfortable then we must abide by this wish. I am a palliative care nurse and ask the all too difficult questions every day, however, when I ask a 96 y.o what their goals are for their care while they are in the hospital it usually comes in the form of "Oh honey, I told the doctor I didn't want to come back here to the hospital. I've had a good life. I just want to be back home with my friends and be comfortable. No one lives forever." POLST forms are used to transfer these wishes into a ACTIONABLE physician order. We may think we are protecting the patient from an uncomfortable topic, and don't wish to cause them distress in facing their own mortality. But believe me you are going to cause them WAY more discomfort, brutality and distress when THE GORRILLA enters the room to perform CPR. So please advocate, investigate and follow thru with patients wishes whether spoken to you or written in a legal document. This is what makes nursing the wonderful profession that it is. :)