Analysis of Advanced Healthcare Directives: A Nursing Assignment

This assignment delves into the realm of advanced healthcare directives, exploring their legal and ethical implications. It begins by defining advanced directives as legal documents enabling individuals to specify medical treatment preferences in case of incapacitation. The assignment highlights the interdependence of advanced directives and the Patient's Bill of Rights, emphasizing the patient's right to choose their treatment plan. It further examines the crucial role of nurses in supporting patients' decisions, providing information, and facilitating discussions about values and beliefs. The assignment also addresses practical considerations, such as reviewing existing directives and preparing new ones, including the use of living wills and durable power of attorney. Finally, it acknowledges potential challenges in healthcare decision-making, such as the availability of specific treatments and the support from healthcare professionals.

Running head: ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
Advanced health care Directives
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
Answer 1
Advance Directive is a legal document that enable a person to specify about what
medical treatments should de done when they loss the capacity of decision-making or
communication skill because of serious injury or illness (Tamura et al., 2017). American
Hospital Association (AHA) published in the year 1973 Patient’s bill of rights that states that
the patient has the right to identify their physicians, nurses and other members who are
engaged in giving care to patients (Lawler et al., 2014). Both are interdependent and related
since patient’s bill of rights give patient the right to choose his/her treatment plan. These
treatment plans are documented in Advanced Directive by the patient so that his future
treatment can take place in the way he/she wants.
Answer 2
To ensure that the ongoing medical treatment is consistent with patient’s wish, nurses
plays an important role in writing advanced directives. Code of ethics for registered nurse
specifies nurses’ role in advanced directives. The first and foremost role of nurse in to
support the decision made by the patient .They should help patient in planning their future
treatment by using advance directive. They should inform patients or clients about advance
directives in detail and should know the ethics that are associated with treatment at the end of
life. They should also be informed about the sociodemographic features of the patient as well
as his family members and about the medical and nursing care status of the client. The second
role of the nurse is to involve with clients in discussion process for clarification of their
values, religious beliefs and their understanding with respect to the current situation. The
nurse should teach the clients the process to express their ideas in the document and should
explain them the way of appointing a substitute decision-maker (Coffey et al., 2016).

2ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
Answer 3
If I already have prepared Advance Directives, I will use some other types of
directives for the process of decision making. In 1998, Minnesota law has provided several
other types of documents. These include living will and durable power of attorney. Forms
that are created within 1st August, 1998 are legal and I should review this and be sure that
these document is stating the same thing that I require. After finalization, I will sign it in front
of two witnesses. . I should talk or consult with health care provider or agents in case if I
face any confusion in the process of decision-making. Challenges that I encountered is in
some instances provider mentioned that some of my required treatment are not available there
and ensure that they will provide me some alternative treatment.
Answer 4
If I do not have advanced care directives I will start to prepare my advanced care
directive form. I will designate one person who can handle my healthcare choices and inform
them about my end-of-life preferences. I should gather informations about decision making
from physicians and health care providers.
I would consult with heath are agents, my physician and family members during the
process of decision-making. I may encounter some challenges like lack of participation of
health care professionals and physicians. They may not support all my decisions as well.

3ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
References:
Coffey, A., McCarthy, G., Weathers, E., Friedman, M. I., Gallo, K., Ehrenfeld, M., ... &
Molloy, D. W. (2016). Nurses' knowledge of advance directives and perceived
confidence in end‐of‐life care: a cross‐sectional study in five countries. International
journal of nursing practice, 22(3), 247-257.
Lawler, M., Le Chevalier, T., Banks, I., Conte, P., De Lorenzo, F., Meunier, F., ... &
Johnston, P. G. (2014). A Bill of Rights for patients with cancer in Europe. The
Lancet Oncology, 15(3), 258-260.
Tamura, M. K., Montez-Rath, M. E., Hall, Y. N., Katz, R., & O’Hare, A. M. (2017). Advance
directives and end-of-life care among nursing home residents receiving maintenance
dialysis. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 12(3), 435-442.