Biomaterial Database

When is it appropriate to intervene? 1997

M Steele, and H Mass

I work in a long-term setting where the residents all have written levels of intervention. Last week I came across a resident who was choking on a piece of food and unable to breathe. Even though I knew he had a DNR order as a component of his written level of intervention, I initiated action to rescue him. In thinking about this afterward, and discussing it with colleagues, we began to question whether I should have done this since it could be said that I was acting against his wishes. What is your opinion on this?

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008134	Long-Term Care	Care over an extended period, usually for a chronic condition or disability, requiring periodic, intermittent, or continuous care.	Care, Long-Term,Long Term Care
D008297	Male		Males
D009732	Nursing Care	Care given to patients by nursing service personnel.	Care, Nursing,Management, Nursing Care,Nursing Care Management
D004993	Ethics, Nursing	The principles of proper professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of nurses themselves, their patients, and their fellow practitioners, as well as their actions in the care of patients and in relations with their families.	Nursing Ethics,Ethic, Nursing,Nursing Ethic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000402	Airway Obstruction	Any hindrance to the passage of air into and out of the lungs.	Choking,Airway Obstructions,Obstruction, Airway,Obstructions, Airway
D016414	Resuscitation Orders	Instructions issued by a physician pertaining to the institution, continuation, or withdrawal of life support measures. The concept includes policies, laws, statutes, decisions, guidelines, and discussions that may affect the issuance of such orders.	DNR Orders,Do Not Resuscitate Order,Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders,Resuscitation Decisions,Resuscitation Policies,Withholding Resuscitation,DNR Order,Decision, Resuscitation,Do Not Resuscitate Orders,Do-Not-Resuscitate Order,Order, DNR,Order, Do-Not-Resuscitate,Order, Resuscitation,Policy, Resuscitation,Resuscitation Decision,Resuscitation Order,Resuscitation Policy