Which statement describes a nurse's responsibility in relation to advance directives?

Which statement describes a nurse's responsibility in relation to advance directives?

• A. Ensure Directives Reflect Current Decisions
• B. Create New Directives for Every Patient
• C. Enforce Directives Regardless of Patient Wishes
• D. Withhold Information About Directives from the Patient

Answer: (A)

Advance directives are about honoring the patient’s choices about future care. The nurse’s responsibility is to ensure that any advance directives on file truly reflect the patient’s current decisions. People’s preferences can change with time, health status, or new information, so the directive must be reviewed and kept up to date, clearly communicated to the care team, and accessible when decisions arise. If a directive is outdated or unclear, the nurse facilitates discussion to clarify or update the patient’s wishes and then helps ensure the directives guide care consistent with those wishes. Creating new directives for every patient isn’t the nurse’s obligation; directives are patient-driven, often with support from clinicians or counsel as requested. Enforcing directives regardless of patient wishes would override autonomy, which isn’t appropriate when the patient’s current desires aren’t reflected in the directive. Withholding information about directives from the patient undermines informed choice and consent, which are essential to ethical care.

Advance directives are about honoring the patient’s choices about future care. The nurse’s responsibility is to ensure that any advance directives on file truly reflect the patient’s current decisions. People’s preferences can change with time, health status, or new information, so the directive must be reviewed and kept up to date, clearly communicated to the care team, and accessible when decisions arise. If a directive is outdated or unclear, the nurse facilitates discussion to clarify or update the patient’s wishes and then helps ensure the directives guide care consistent with those wishes.

Creating new directives for every patient isn’t the nurse’s obligation; directives are patient-driven, often with support from clinicians or counsel as requested. Enforcing directives regardless of patient wishes would override autonomy, which isn’t appropriate when the patient’s current desires aren’t reflected in the directive. Withholding information about directives from the patient undermines informed choice and consent, which are essential to ethical care.