Full Code Hospice Patients and Nurse Responsibilities

Jo C.

Many people do not know that their Loved One can be on a full code resuscitation status; the following link discusses that and also has detailed information for nurses regarding their responsibilities especially addressing biases:

https://www.myamericannurse.com/innovative-care-approach-hospice-patients/

J

MN Chickadee

Thank you for sharing, I had no idea this was a thing. The whole idea of hospice not providing interventions that prolongs life seems a bit counter-intuitive to this, but I suppose it's technically not a cure for disease. It makes me wonder what would happen after the full code response . Would hospice support the intubation, life support measures, medications etc that would likely be required after resuscitation?  It seems like murky waters! 

My mother was full code until very late stage 6 (my father was in denial about her condition and needed time to come around to the idea.) I got a lot of comments on it, each time she was in the ER which was pretty often towards the end; I got gentle reminders from her PCP about the risks and outcomes, the memory care facility raised an eyebrow. It was not my choice alone to make and I supported making her DNR from the onset of dementia per her written wishes and definitely felt like we were unusual in having her full code.