The Nurse's Role in Preparing a Living Will for a Client with Cancer

What is the most appropriate nursing action when a client with cancer asks the nurse to act as a witness for their living will?

The most appropriate nursing action will be Ask the client who might be available to serve as a witness. Justification: A living will concerns the withdrawal or withholding of interventions that prolong life unnaturally. It designates the client who will decide on care if the client is unable to. Two strangers to the customer are witnesses and signers on it. Beneficiaries of the client and nurses working in a facility where the client is receiving treatment are not permitted to act as witnesses. You have no need to contact the HCP.

Understanding the Nursing Role in Preparing a Living Will

When a client with cancer asks the nurse to act as a witness for their living will, it is important for the nurse to understand the ethical and legal considerations involved in such a request. A living will is a legal document that outlines a person's wishes regarding medical treatment in the event that they are unable to communicate their preferences.

Why Asking the Client for Available Witnesses is Appropriate

Asking the client who might be available to serve as a witness is the most appropriate nursing action because witnesses to a living will should be impartial parties who are not directly involved in the client's care. This helps ensure that the client's wishes are respected and that the document is legally valid.

Nursing Actions in Providing Care for Clients with Cancer

In addition to assisting with the preparation of legal documents such as living wills, nurses play a crucial role in providing holistic care to clients with cancer. Nursing actions include food preparation, self-hygiene and dental care, monitoring fluid intake and output, ambulation, discharge planning and education, and surveillance of a patient's overall condition.

It is important for nurses to communicate effectively with clients, respect their autonomy and privacy, and advocate for their best interests. By understanding the legal and ethical considerations involved in preparing a living will, nurses can fulfill their role in supporting clients with cancer in making informed decisions about their care.