A nurse is teaching participants at a community center about advance directives. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A reason: Assigning all staff to the emergency department disrupts care for existing inpatients and may overwhelm ED operations. Staff allocation should follow a triage plan, balancing hospital-wide needs. This action is impractical and risks neglecting other patients, making it less effective than preparing resources.
Choice B reason: Preparing to discharge stable clients frees up beds for incoming casualties, optimizing hospital capacity during a mass casualty event. This aligns with disaster protocols, ensuring resources are available for critical patients. It supports efficient triage and care delivery, making it the correct action.
Choice C reason: Canceling all elective surgeries immediately is premature without assessing the event’s scope. Some surgeries may continue if resources allow, per disaster protocols. This action disrupts hospital operations unnecessarily and is less urgent than preparing beds for casualties, making it inappropriate.
Choice D reason: Requesting ventilators assumes specific needs without assessing the casualty event’s nature. Ventilators may not be immediately required, and resource allocation should follow triage protocols. Preparing beds is a more immediate and versatile action, making this choice less prioritized in the initial response.

Choice A reason: Explaining the implications of a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status ensures the client understands that no CPR or intubation will occur if their condition deteriorates. This supports informed consent and autonomy, clarifying the scope of DNR to prevent misunderstandings. It respects the client’s decision-making capacity, ensuring their wishes align with end-of-life care preferences.
Choice B reason: Placing a “Do Not Resuscitate” sign outside the room breaches confidentiality under HIPAA, risking unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. DNR status is communicated via medical records or wristbands. This action is inappropriate, as it does not contribute to implementing the client’s wishes and violates privacy standards, making it an incorrect response.
Choice C reason: Obtaining family consent is unnecessary for a competent client’s DNR request, as autonomy rests with the client. If decisionally capable, their wishes override family input. The nurse’s role is to support the client’s decision, not seek family approval, unless the client is incapacitated, which is not indicated, making this action inappropriate.
Choice D reason: Documenting the DNR request in the medical record ensures the care team follows the client’s wishes, preventing unwanted interventions. Accurate documentation communicates code status, supports legal and ethical standards, and ensures continuity of care. This is critical for aligning treatment with the client’s end-of-life preferences, making it a necessary action.