A client who sustained a traumatic brain injury several weeks ago is in a chronic vegetative state and is no longer competent to make healthcare decisions.Who should the nurse expect to make care decisions for this client?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A) The nurse, recognizing that the client is no longer competent, should follow whatever hospital policy is in place for contacting the agent named in a durable power of attorney for health care. The physician is not the appropriate individual to make decisions for the client. Social services may be the department that would contact the agent of a durable power of attorney, but social services would not be that power. In the case of an incompetent client, the spouse would be the agent of the durable power of attorney only if the court appointed the spouse.
B) The nurse, recognizing that the client is no longer competent, should follow whatever hospital policy is in place for contacting the agent named in a durable power of attorney for health care. The physician is not the appropriate individual to make decisions for the client. Social services may be the department that would contact the agent of a durable power of attorney, but social services would not be that power. In the case of an incompetent client, the spouse would be the agent of the durable power of attorney only if the court appointed the spouse.
C) The nurse, recognizing that the client is no longer competent, should follow whatever hospital policy is in place for contacting the agent named in a durable power of attorney for health care. The physician is not the appropriate individual to make decisions for the client. Social services may be the department that would contact the agent of a durable power of attorney, but social services would not be that power. In the case of an incompetent client, the spouse would be the agent of the durable power of attorney only if the court appointed the spouse.
D) The nurse, recognizing that the client is no longer competent, should follow whatever hospital policy is in place for contacting the agent named in a durable power of attorney for health care. The physician is not the appropriate individual to make decisions for the client. Social services may be the department that would contact the agent of a durable power of attorney, but social services would not be that power. In the case of an incompetent client, the spouse would be the agent of the durable power of attorney only if the court appointed the spouse.

A Client Who Sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury Several Weeks