Post-test Quiz: Nursing Care – American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying

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In order to legally proceed with aid in dying, the eligible patient must:*

prepare the medications for themselves
be able to swallow medications
be able to digest and absorb the medications
Have the capacity to make their own medical decisions

If a patient begins to have nausea and vomiting the day before a planned aid in dying, the nurse should:*

Communicate assessment findings to the attending/prescribing MD and/or the clinical team with the recommendation that extra antiemetics be added to pre-medications.
Communicate assessment findings to the attending/prescribing MD and/or clinical team with the recommendation that the procedure be delayed until nausea and vomiting are well controlled for 48hrs before proceeding, ideally with non-sedating antiemetic such as dexamethasone.
Ensure the patient has nothing to eat or drink for 24 hours before the procedure, and is positioned in an upright sitting position during self-ingestion.
Call the attending/prescribing MD or the clinical team and communicate the assessments with the recommendation to cancel the aid-in-dying procedure and begin terminal sedation.

All of the below are legal aid-in-dying practices for nurses, except:*

Assisting with preparing aid in dying medications for patients
Giving information about aid in dying to patients who request it, before they speak with their doctors.
Participating in aid-in-dying care and evaluations.
Administering aid in dying medications to patients

An absolute contraindication to proceed with the aid in dying day is: *

Family objections or unresolved discord
Hospice policy says the nurse cannot attend the death
The patient’s progression toward death has led to his loss of capacity to make medical decisions
The patient’s power of attorney decides they cannot proceed.

Certification: I certify that I have spent at least 1 hour to watch this video and answer the pre- and post-test quizzes, for 1 unit of continuing education credit.*

Certified

Post-test Quiz, Nursing, 2023