The Role Of DNR In Patients

Paper Assignment Many individuals with developmental disabilities have a medical document called DNR (Feldman, 2016, p. 468). DNR stands for do not resuscitate; no life-saving measures or procedures are to be taken to keep a patient alive. When making the decision to implement the DNR, the needs of the individual are to be considered and how life-saving measures can affect the individual. In many cases keeping an individual alive with these actions can be invasive, extremely painful, and can make the quality of life worse. This medical document can mean the difference of being kept alive by machines or dying immediately. The issue with nursing practitioners is the fact that they are trained to do anything medically and physically feasible to keep a patient alive. DNR changes the way nurses provide for these patients. Patients with a DNR can be of any age from infants through the end of life. This is controversial for a nurse because families are primarily making the decision for the person with the disability. In class, we have discussed concepts that relate to families choosing to implement the DNR. Post-conventional morality level three of Kohlberg's moral reasoning (Feldman, 2016, p. 325) is when people accept their beliefs and …show more content…
283) is when one evaluates their life as a whole relooking every decision and problems faced throughout life at the time near death. When a person goes through life review, he/she normally forms a better understanding of the past and resolves problems. The guardian for an individual who has a DNR may have mixed emotions for deciding to have the medical document in place. Although one may feel like it was necessary, he/she may question if the correct decision was made. This decision is not easy, but making peace with it can make one accept that it is in the best interest as he/she approaches the end of life. Knowledge of both moral reasoning and life review can help in the career of