What does a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order indicate?

• A. CPR should not be performed if the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest
• B. CPR should be started immediately in all cases
• C. Only advanced cardiac life support should be used
• D. Medication administration should be halted during arrest

Answer: (A)

Do Not Resuscitate means that if the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest, resuscitation efforts such as CPR should not be started. It’s about whether life-saving measures to restart heart or breathing are attempted, not about withholding all other care. The order doesn’t automatically limit every other treatment; clinicians can continue comfort measures and treat other medical issues according to the patient’s goals and plan of care. The other statements would stray from this focus: CPR would not be performed as requested, it isn’t about using only advanced life support, and halting medications during arrest isn’t what a DNR specifies.