Medical Residents' Practices and Perceptions toward Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order

The knowledge and implementation skills of the DNR order amongst physicians in training appear to be quite variable. Few studies had assessed residents' views on this complex topic. Our objective was to describe the medical residents’ practices and perceptions toward DNR order. A 26 question survey was distributed to medical residents during the academic day activity.

Only 56 residents completed the questionnaire (75% response rate). 61.40% of the residents understood the definition of DNR order. 85.96% thought physicians shouldn’t order diagnostic tests for DNR patients and 92.98% thought physicians shouldn’t give blood products and antibiotics to DNR patients. 45.61% thought DNR order would lead to poor care. 36.84% thought physician alone should decide about the DNR decision. 45.61% answered that DNR order never discussed with patients. 64.91% answered that consultant discussed DNR order with patients. 42.11% of residents were involved in the discussion of DNR order.

66.67% answered that time to decide about the DNR order on day of admission. 42.11% answered there was variation between consultants regarding the care of DNR patient. 43.86% answered there was variation in the clinical care before and after DNR order was placed. 87.72% thought here was a need for formal training in DNR discussion. 68.42% didn’t know if KFSH and RC had clinical guidelines for DNR patients care.

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Do Not Resuscitate: An Argumentative Essay

The primary health care provider goal is to restore patients' health as possible by maximizing benefits and minimizing harm. Accordingly if treatment failed, the harm or burden will be more than benefits. On the other hand, if the competent patient refused treatment; that treatment is no longer justified. Unfortunately, many physicians do not know their patients’ preferences for resuscitation, and many patients have a poor understanding of their own resuscitation order.

Nurses as an essential part of the health care provider have always been beside of dying patients, their roles in providing the maximum quality of care and support for the remaining lifetime for both patients and their loved ones is traditional and expected. The nurse’s loyalty to the patient requires an expertise in the relief of physical, emotional, or spiritual suffering, which means the nurse’s roles in discussions end of life choices with patients is imminent.

Death is defined in Black’s Law Dictionary as an irreversible cessation of the vital functions, signs, circulation, and pulsation. For that if your patient stops breathing or their heart stops beating in the hospital, it is generally felt that the morally best approach is to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). However, success is not always possible, and not uncommon, this procedure is associated with a high level of morbidity but it's must be ethically justified.

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