Basic Nursing 1st Edition by Judith Wilkinson, Leslie Treas

Exercise 5

Patient Situation
Ellen is 85 years old and has sustained a right-sided cerebrovascular accident (CVA, or stroke). Doctors say she is unlikely to regain much physical function, if she even awakens from the coma. Her children, Mary and Dale, have met with the physician, who tells them that Ellen is not likely to survive. The physician wants to insert a feeding tube and has asked whether they want Ellen to be resuscitated in case of cardiac or respiratory arrest. Mary tells you she wants to do what is best for her mother, but she feels that Ellen would not want to be kept alive in the condition she is in. She is also concerned about putting her through uncomfortable procedures if there is no chance of recovery. Her brother, Dale, says, "Mom needs the feeding tube. I can't sit and watch her starve to death. As long as she's alive, there's hope."
Thinking
Theoretical Knowledge (Recall of Facts and Principles): You plan to use the Focus Charting format to document this interaction. a. Write the focus for this note. b. What does the acronym DAR stand for?