What should a nurse do regarding a patient's DNR status within the care team?

• A. Ensure the team is aware of the DNR and that CPR is not performed; verify the directive is valid; communicate with the team.
• B. Ignore DNR if patient asks for intervention.
• C. DNR status is irrelevant to nurses.
• D. DNR overrides patient wishes.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that code status, like a DNR, reflects the patient’s wishes and must be consistently and clearly carried out by the entire care team. A nurse’s responsibility is to ensure that the team knows the patient has a DNR, that CPR will not be performed, and that the directive is valid and current. This means checking that the DNR is properly signed, in the chart, and not revoked, then communicating it to all team members so everyone acts in accordance with the patient’s wishes. By doing this, the care provided aligns with autonomy and legal expectations, avoids unwanted interventions, and reduces moral distress for staff and family.

Ignoring a DNR or treating it as irrelevant undermines the patient’s choices and the nurse’s obligation to follow legally binding orders. The DNR status does not override patient wishes; rather, it embodies them and must be honored unless it is properly changed through the appropriate process.