An elderly client at an assisted living facility is in acute respiratory distress. The client's health record has a full code order. What is the best description for a full code order?

Question

A) The individual will be allowed to die naturally without mechanical or chemical intervention.
B) The individual will have a tube feeding initiated as soon as possible.
C) Client does not wish to be hospitalized or resuscitated if the individual's condition becomes critical.
D) The ambulance is to be called immediately in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest, even though natural death is imminent.

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
Some individuals with terminal illnesses are on full code, meaning that the CPR team is to be called in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest, even though natural death is imminent. An individual may have a do not resuscitate (DNR), do not intubate (DNI), or both orders in his or her health record. Healthcare personnel are thus informed that if this person experiences cardiopulmonary arrest, a "code blue" (or the code name for arrest in that facility) should not be called. The person will be allowed to die naturally, without mechanical or chemical intervention. The use of tube feedings may also be specified as a treatment the client wants or does not want. In the nursing home or in the client's home, the nurse may see a do not hospitalize (DNH) order, in addition to a DNR or DNI order. Clients need to inform their families and significant others of their wishes regarding hospitalization and resuscitation. When a client does not wish to be hospitalized or resuscitated, the family needs maximum support in the home if the person's condition becomes critical.