If there is no DNR/AND prescription in the medical record, what is the default action regarding CPR?

If there is no DNR/AND prescription in the medical record, what is the default action regarding CPR?

• A. CPR Is Initiated by the Nurse
• B. CPR Is Declined by Default
• C. CPR Is Deferred to the Family
• D. CPR Is Initiated by the Attending Physician

Answer: (A)

When no Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) or Allow Natural Death (AND) directive exists, the default approach is to treat the patient as a full code and begin CPR if cardiac arrest occurs. In hospital practice, the nurse is typically the first responder when a code is called and will start CPR immediately according to the code protocol. This rapid initiation helps preserve life and buys time for the team to assess and implement further treatments as needed. The other options don’t fit the default: CPR is not presumed declined by default, since absent a directive, life-sustaining measures are generally offered. Deferring to the family isn’t the real-time standard without an established surrogate or directive, and while physicians guide care, the initial resuscitation effort is usually started by the code team, with the nurse initiating CPR right away.

When no Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) or Allow Natural Death (AND) directive exists, the default approach is to treat the patient as a full code and begin CPR if cardiac arrest occurs. In hospital practice, the nurse is typically the first responder when a code is called and will start CPR immediately according to the code protocol. This rapid initiation helps preserve life and buys time for the team to assess and implement further treatments as needed.

The other options don’t fit the default: CPR is not presumed declined by default, since absent a directive, life-sustaining measures are generally offered. Deferring to the family isn’t the real-time standard without an established surrogate or directive, and while physicians guide care, the initial resuscitation effort is usually started by the code team, with the nurse initiating CPR right away.