Nursing 108

N108: Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse Role Study Guide • Living will: A living will, or directive to physicians, provides information on preferences regarding end of life issues, such as types of care to provide and whether to use various resuscitation methods. The basis of the living will is an if-then plan most commonly declaring that, “If I am terminally ill and not expected to recover, then I want this specific care given.” A living will is often used when a patient is in a persistent vegetative state and not expected to recover function and capacity. Many states require that two physicians must agree that the person is terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state. • Durable power of attorney for healthcare: This is a document that legally designates a substitutionary decision maker should the person be incapacitated. This document is often referred to as designating a healthcare proxy and provides individuals with the opportunity to identify a preferred legal decision maker if they are incapacitated. • Physician orders for life-sustaining treatments: There are limitations on resuscitation in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. The most comprehensive order is a do not resuscitate (DNR) or no code, which means that no resuscitation efforts of any kind are to be made, and that the patient is allowed to die naturally. Examples include no CPR, no resuscitative drugs, and no mechanical ventilation. 2.5 Criminal Law Criminal law is different from civil law. Penalties can include fines and/or jail time. A breach of criminal law is considered to be harmful to society. Differences between civil and criminal law: Conflict With Standard of Proof Penalty Civil Law Another individual Preponderance of evidence Property Criminal Law Society Beyond a reasonable doubt Property, liberty, or life Criminal negligence is an act that is unintended but is considered to be seriously negligent and classified as a crime against society. Criminal negligence is prosecuted under criminal law. Reckless disregard for human life and involuntary manslaughter are the most common charges used against nurses. In most cases, it must be proved that the nurse not only did wrong but did not care about doing wrong. Patient abuse can be physical or psychological in nature and is any action or failure to act, which causes unreasonable suffering, misery, or harm to the patient, and can include chemical or physical restraints. Assault and battery are commonly treated as criminal cases when they involve suspected abuse of a patient. Physical abuse involves one or more episodes of aggressive behavior, usually

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