The nurse is assessing the family dynamics of a widow with end stage terminal cancer. Which statement made between the adult children would best indicate the need for further teaching?a. "It does not matter what we think, the living will says 'do not resuscitate'."
b. "Since you are the oldest child, you have the responsibility to decide."
c. "If daddy were alive, he would be making these hard decisions, not us."
d. "The doctors have told us that it is time for us to make some tough decisions."

A living will is a written, legal document which the patient uses to give instructions regarding his/her treatment if they become terminally ill. It includes what they patient would and would not want to be used to keep them alive, other preferences and medical decisions such as pain management, organ donation, if and when they would want to be resuscitated by CPR or by electric shock to stimulate the heart.

A Dr which means Do Not Resuscitate is different document from a living will. A DR states if your heart stops or you stop breathing the medical professionals are not to attempt to revive you in any way. To establish a DNR order the patient has to inform the doctor about his/her preference and the order will be written in the patient's medical record.