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
•The physician should be called. Only the physician can determine the patient's competency and provide adequate information before the patient can sign an advanced directive specifying his wishes to not be intubated or not resuscitated.
Incorrect options:
•Nurses cannot determine patient's competency themselves or have the patient sign an advanced directive form.
•Consulting the family is a violation of patient confidentiality.