521- Week 5 Field Activity Paper

Assignment Description

This 521- Week 5 Field Activity Paper will have three parts addressing two important pieces of legislation related to the right of individuals to make health care decisions for themselves.

Part I

The Advance Health Care Directive

Locate a copy of an advanced directive (AD) that complies with the laws of the state where you work. The organization where you work should have a copy of an advance directive given to patients. If not, download your state’s Advance Directives here http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289.Links to an external site.

Complete the advance directive for yourself.  Do not turn in your AD with your paper. The AD is for your personal use.

In your paper, Part I:

1. Identify where you obtained the AD and explain its compliance with state law.
2. Conduct research (1-2 sources) to learn more about AD in your state and explain how it works.    ( i live in California)
3. Discuss how easy or difficult it was to complete the AD. Your comments should be specific and both objective and subjective. For example, when you state your personal feelings, you must relate them to the literature (textbook and research) discussing this process and the difficulties many people face when completing an advance directive.

(Cite/ reference any sources you use to explore these questions, including your texts.)

Part II

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form

1. What is a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) for?
2. When should this form be completed?
3. Who can complete the form?
4. Who needs to sign the form to make it a legal document?

(Cite/reference any sources you use to explore these questions, including your texts.)

 

 

Part III

Tie the two first sections together by writing a summary and conclusion.

This section should address the following:

1. the differences between an Advance Health Care Directive and the POLST,

2. the RN’s important role is assuring the patient’s right to autonomy in choosing the healthcare interventions the patient does or does not want.

521- Week 5 Field Activity Paper Writing Instructions

Use the current APA Style.

The paper should be 3-5 pages long, excluding the title and reference page(s).

Cite and reference the course text and at least two (2) additional appropriate professional sources.