It is the nurse’s job and part of the law (Client Self-Determination Act) to assess for existing advanced directives and integrate them into the patient’s care, and inform and educate about them if the patient is unfamiliar with advanced directives
- Check the EHR for any advanced directives
- Ask the patient: “Mr. Smith, do you have any advanced directives already set up? Do you have a living will or healthcare power of attorney? ”
- If the patient says yes, ask for copies so that they can be added to the chart
about them if they don’t have any or know what they are
Definitions:
- A living will is a document that says what you want to be done, or not done, in the event that you become incapacitated
- A durable power of attorney is someone who makes medical decisions for you when you are incapacitated
- Assess for existing advanced directives
- If the patient becomes incapacitated, integrate them into their care
A health care proxy is the document that outlines who the durable power of attorney is
