Case Study: End-of-Life Care Part 2
While Mrs. Johnson is visiting her husband, the monitor alarm goes off and the nurse rushes in. Mrs. Johnson asks, “What’s wrong?” The nurse says, “He’s having a cardiac arrest.” Mrs. Johnson yells, “Save him, please save him!” The nurse calls a code, initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and asks Mrs. Johnson to step outside while the team works on her husband. Mrs. Johnson calls her children and tells them to come to the hospital as soon as they can. The code team restores Mr. Johnson’s cardiac rhythm. While waiting outside the room when the nurse and the certified nurse assistant (CNA) care for Mr. Johnson and straighten up the room, Mrs. Johnson overhears the nurse tell the CNA how terrible she feels putting Mr. Johnson through cardiac resuscitation when there is no hope for him to ever regain consciousness and have any quality of life. The CNA asks why they have to call a code, and the nurse explains that they must adhere to the wife’s wishes.
Discussion Questions
- Did the nurse and the healthcare team place Mr. Johnson and his family at the center of care? Explain your answer.
- Were Mr. Johnson’s dignity, privacy, and confidentiality respected in this scenario? Explain your answer.
- How did the nurse demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct in this situation?
Case Study: End-of-Life Care Part 2
While Mrs. Johnson is visiting her husband, the monitor alarm goes off and the nurse rushes in. Mrs. Johnson asks, “What’s wrong?” The nurse says, “He’s having a cardiac arrest.” Mrs. Johnson yells, “Save him, please save him!” The nurse calls a code, initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and asks Mrs. Johnson to step outside while the team works on her husband. Mrs. Johnson calls her children and tells them to come to the hospital as soon as they can. The code team restores Mr. Johnson’s cardiac rhythm. While waiting outside the room when the nurse and the certified nurse assistant (CNA) care for Mr. Johnson and straighten up the room, Mrs. Johnson overhears the nurse tell the CNA how terrible she feels putting Mr. Johnson through cardiac resuscitation when there is no hope for him to ever regain consciousness and have any quality of life. The CNA asks why they have to call a code, and the nurse explains that they must adhere to the wife’s wishes.
Discussion Questions
- Did the nurse and the healthcare team place Mr. Johnson and his family at the center of care? Explain your answer.
- Were Mr. Johnson’s dignity, privacy, and confidentiality respected in this scenario? Explain your answer.
- How did the nurse demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct in this situation?