The nurse is caring for a client who reports having a durable power of attorney.
The nurse understands that this type of advance directive is
The nurse is caring for a client who reports having a durable power of attorney.
The nurse understands that this type of advance directive is
A. a person who makes decisions for a client once the health care provider states the client no longer has the capacity to make their own health care decisions.
[11%]
B. a legal document that tells health care providers and family members about which life-sustaining treatment is wanted or unwanted if the client is unable to make decisions.
[7%]
C. a legal document in which a client designates someone else to make medical decisions for them when the client can no longer do so.
[76%]
D. a specific designation specifying who can receive and discuss the client's privileged healthcare information.
[6%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Leadership & Management
Lesson
Ethical/Legal
Client Need
Test Plan
Management of Care
Related Topic
Advance Directives
Item Type
Item Type
Knowledge/Comprehension
Explanation
Choice C is correct. A durable power of attorney is a legal document in which a client designates someone else to make decisions for them when the client can no longer do so.
Choice A is incorrect. A health care proxy makes decisions for a client once the health care provider states the client no longer has the capacity to make their own health care decisions. This is usually a result of cognition impairment. An individual must be able to perform 3 tasks to have decision-making ability, which includes the ability to receive information, the ability to evaluate, deliberate, and mentally manipulate information, and the ability to communicate a treatment preference.
Choice B is incorrect. A living will tells health care providers and family members about which life-sustaining treatment is wanted or unwanted if the client is unable to make decisions.
Choice D is incorrect. A health care proxy designation and a designation to receive confidential information protected under HIPAA are two distinct designations.
Learning Objective
Recognize that a health care proxy is an agent named in a legal document designated to make medical decisions for the individual signing the document when they can no longer make decisions for themselves.
Related Videos
2 Key Topics
Advanced Directives & Living Wills
15.11 Legal & Ethical Decision-Making Tools
Additional Info
✓ A durable power of attorney for health care is a type of advance directive in which clients designate a health care proxy to make health care decisions if they cannot.
✓ The proxy can be any competent adult the client chooses and does not have to be a relative.
✓ The durable power of attorney only makes a decision(s) for the client when incapacitated.
