Author Question: The nurse frequently cares for patients who are nearing the end of life. A strategy that is designed ... (Read 51 times)

Lobcity · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse frequently cares for patients who are nearing the end of life. A strategy that is designed to prolong the time of death rather than restoring life is:

a. establishing a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.
b. adherence to living will requests.
c. removal of extraordinary measures already in place.
d. continuance of futile care.

Question 2

In the nursing profession, ethical issues:

a. are rare occurrences, but take a great deal of time to resolve.
b. have required The Joint Commission to mandate ethics committees.
c. most frequently lead to legal intervention in patient care matters.
d. lead to ethics committees made up entirely by nurses.

polinasid · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care exist regarding the establishment of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, adherence to living will and organ donation requests, removal of extraordinary measures already initiated, and continuance of futile care (i.e., care that is useless and prolongs the time until death rather than restoring life).

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
All nurses are faced with ethical decisions each day in practice, and some choose to obtain further education and experience in the field of bioethics and participate on institutional ethics committees along with physicians, ethicists, attorneys, and academicians. Ethics committees are required by The Joint Commission to respond to ethical challenges related to patient care requiring consultation. The work of the ethics committees in health care institutions helps to prevent unnecessary legal intervention in patient care matters. If acceptable resolutions are not achieved through consultation with the ethics committee, patients, families, and health care providers, the legal system may become involved.