ALZHEIMER'S BLOG: ALZHEIMERSBLOG:

Working on my ambulance I came across a patient who was 90 yrs old and in a nursing home for pt/ot due to having a CVA. Her son wanted to talk to us outside the door. He informed me that his mother's wishes were to be a DNR. Do Not Resuscitate. She has dementia and on the way to the hospital, she told me she didn't want me to put in her IV and wanted to die. I thought I would touch up on DNR.

This form was designed for the pre hospital setting, whether in a persons home, or a long term care faculty, or during transport to or from a hospital or nursing faculty. This paper is to forgo resuscitation attempts in the event the patient goes into cardiac arrest. Resuscitate measures include chest compressions, assisted ventilation's, endotracheal intubation, defibrillation, cardiotonic drugs. This does not effect other emergency medical care including palliative treatment for pain, dyspnea, major hemorrhage, or other medical conditions.

This form must be signed by the patient, or patients legal representative, and the patients physician. For the ambulance/ fire you need the orange paper that is signed. Please talk to your doctor first and your loved one to make sure this is what you want done.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com