The nurse is caring for an elderly patient who is in cardiogenic shock.The patient has failed to respond to medical treatment.The intensivist in charge of the patient conducts a conference to explain that they have exhausted treatment options and suggest that the patient be made a "do not resuscitate" status.This scenario illustrates the concept of:

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This is the definition of futility.Brain death is cessation of brain function and is not described in this scenario.Incompetence (in this chapter)is when a patient is unable to make decisions regarding healthcare treatment.A life-prolonging procedure is one that sustains,restores,or supplants a spontaneous vital function.

The Nurse Is Caring for an Elderly Patient Who Is