A patient has decided to forgo additional treatments for her terminal disease.The patient has presented a valid living will.The family is unhappy and tells the nurse they think the patient made the decision because of her depression.What response by the nurse is indicated?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's primary responsibility is to ensure that the patient's wishes are followed as outlined in their living will. The nurse should be sensitive to the family's concerns but not compromise the patient's autonomy. The nurse should also encourage open communication between the patient and family to address any concerns or questions about the decision. Suggesting that the do not resuscitate order be revised is not appropriate without the patient's consent and discussion with the healthcare team.

A Patient Has Decided to Forgo Additional Treatments for Her