A patient with lung cancer is admitted for respiratory acidosis. The patient informs the nurse that he does not want to be mechanically ventilated. What should the nurse do next?

Explanation

•Only the physician can determine patient competency and provide adequate information before the patient can sign a do-not-intubate or do-not-resuscitate form.

•The nurse cannot determine patient competency or have the patient sign an advanced directive form.

•Consulting the family is a violation of patient confidentiality.

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