A Nurse's Role in Witnessing a Living Will

Understanding the Situation

A nurse enters a client's room and notices that the client's lawyer is present, and the client is preparing a living will. The living will requires the client's signature to be witnessed, and the client asks the nurse to witness the signature. In this situation, it is crucial for the nurse to understand the appropriate course of action to take.

The Appropriate Nursing Action

The appropriate nursing action in this scenario is to sign the will as a witness to the signature only. A living will, also known as an advance directive, is a legal document that outlines an individual's preferences for future medical treatment in case they are unable to communicate their wishes. The role of the witness in this context is to verify the identity and mental capacity of the person signing the document.

Explaining the Decision

In the given situation, it is not the nurse's responsibility to verify the content or legality of the document. By signing as a witness, the nurse is simply confirming that the client signed the document voluntarily and was of sound mind when doing so. Therefore, the most appropriate action for the nurse is to sign the will as a witness to the signature only.

Understanding Living Wills

A living will is a crucial document that ensures an individual's medical care preferences are carried out if they become unable to express themselves. This may include instructions regarding resuscitation, life-sustaining treatments, and the appointment of a healthcare proxy. It is important for individuals to have a living will in place to guarantee that their wishes are respected.

Question:

What is the appropriate nursing action when a client asks the nurse to witness the signing of their living will?

Answer:

The appropriate course of action for the nurse is to sign the will as a witness to the signature only. A living will, or advance directive, is a legal document specifying an individual's future medical treatment preferences, providing guidance should they become unable to express their wishes.

Explanation: In the given scenario, the most appropriate option for the nurse would be to sign the will as a witness to the signature only. This is because the role of a witness in this regard is merely to confirm the identity of the person signing the document and that they were of a sound mental state when making the decision. They are not verifying the content or legality of the document itself, making option 2 the most appropriate course of action.