NAB CORE Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master the Long Term Care Administrator Certification!

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a legal document that indicates a person's wishes regarding resuscitation efforts in the event of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. The individual who has the capacity to understand and make decisions about their medical care holds the primary authority to establish a DNR order. In this context, the care recipient themselves is the one who can authorize such an order, as it directly reflects their personal wishes about end-of-life treatment.

Understanding the significance of this choice requires recognizing that while family members such as a spouse, daughter, or son may have opinions or emotions surrounding the desire for a DNR order, the decision ultimately rests with the individual who is experiencing cognitive care issues. This authority is grounded in respect for patient autonomy, allowing the care recipient to make informed decisions about their own health care preferences.

In scenarios where the care recipient is unable to make their wishes known, different laws and regulations come into play regarding the appointment of healthcare proxies or advance care planning, which would allow chosen family members to make such decisions on behalf of the individual. However, in this specific question, the focus is on the capacity of the care recipient themselves, making it clear why they are the rightful person to authorize a DNR order.