When applying the "substituted judgment" standard for decision making, the nurse is asking the health care proxy to make decisions based on what the:
1. Family would like done under these circumstances
2. Spouse would like done under these circumstances
3. Proxy could imagine the patient wants for him- or herself
4. Health care providers feel is appropriate.
3
Rationale 1: This is not how the substituted judgment standard is implemented.
Rationale 2: This does not explain the standard from which decisions are made by the health care proxy.
Rationale 3: This is the correct definition of "substituted judgment," in which the proxy decides what the patient might desire for end-of-life care. The success of this approach may vary with the proxy's ability to see the situation from the patient's point of view.
Rationale 4: What the health care providers "feel" should not be a factor in the decision-making process.
You might also like to view...
A nurse works with many transgender clients. What routine monitoring is important for the nurse to facilitate in this population? (Select all that apply.)
a. Lipid profile b. Liver function tests c. Mammograms if breast tissue is present d. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for natal males e. Renal profile
The nurse is assessing a newborn a few minutes after birth. The neonate has overlapping anterior fontanelles and suture lines. The best nursing action is to:
1. Contact the physician immediately. 2. Verify the presence of lanugo. 3. Document the findings. 4. Assess for rectal patency.
The nurse is providing care to a child who has suffered abuse. Which nursing actions are appropriate? Select all that apply
A) Ask the child what he did to cause his parents to beat him so badly. B) Tell the child that the individual who hurt them is a bad person. C) Follow protocols for mandatory reporting. D) Remind the child that he did nothing wrong. E) Ask the child what really happened.
A nurse is admitting a 45-year-old man to the Medical Surgical unit. The patient has a diagnosis of Buerger's disease
While taking the patient's health history he reveals that he smokes about 2 packs of cigarettes a day, has a history of alcohol abuse, and does not exercise. What would be the priority teaching for this patient? A) The lack of exercise, which is the identified cause of Buerger's disease. B) The likelihood that drinking alcohol and not exercising may cause his death in the near future without a significant change in behavior. C) The cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a powerful vasoconstrictor and may cause or aggravate Buerger's disease. D) The fact that alcohol suppresses the immune system, creates high glucose levels, and may cause Buerger's disease.