Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

For a DNR order to be effective, which component is critical to include?

1. Patient's full medical history

2. Patient's name and date of birth

3. Explicit wishes regarding resuscitation

4. Contact information of the physician

The correct answer is: Explicit wishes regarding resuscitation

A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order is a legal document that indicates a patient's preference to forgo resuscitation efforts in the event of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. For this order to be effective, it must clearly articulate the patient's explicit wishes regarding resuscitation. This clarity ensures that medical personnel understand the patient's intentions and can honor their choice in a critical situation. The DNR order must be unambiguous about whether or not the patient wants to receive CPR or other resuscitative measures. This prevents any confusion or misinterpretation when making quick decisions about emergency care. While other components, such as the patient's name and date of birth, can provide identification and context, the core of the DNR order hinges on the explicit wishes regarding resuscitation, which is what ultimately guides healthcare providers in respecting the patient's autonomy. In essence, the specificity and clarity of the patient's wishes in the document are what make it actionable in emergency situations.