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?
A) The physician
B) The client's spouse
C) Social services
D) The agent named in the durable power of attorney
Answer: 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.
You might also like to view...
A 15-year-old boy is being carefully monitored for a skin infection and is being given ciprofloxacin. The nurse will observe for which of the following?
A) Arthropathy B) Colitis C) Hepatitis D) Hypotension
The code team has just defibrillated a patient in ventricular fibrillation. Following CPR for 2 minutes, what is the next action to take?
a. Administer amiodarone. b. Administer lidocaine. c. Assess rhythm and pulse. d. Prepare for transcutaneous pacing.
A client has colorectal cancer. Which activities are especially important for the nurse to conduct for this client? (Select all that apply.)
a. Monitor liver function studies. b. Maintain accurate intake and output. c. Obtain daily weight using the same scale. d. Palpate lymph nodes at each clinic visit. e. Ask the client about changes in belly size.
A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "I'm being watched constantly by the FBI because of my job." Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A) "Tell me more about how you are being watched." B) "It must be frightening to feel like you're always being watched." C) "You're not being watched; it's all in your mind." D) "You are experiencing a delusion because of your illness."