An older adult without an advance directive requests no interventions should stop breathing during the night. Which type of order should the nurse discuss with the person and healthcare provider?

• A. No extraordinary measures
• B. Allow natural death
• C. All but CPR
• D. Permit to die

Answer: (B)

This assesses how to honor an older adult’s end-of-life preferences through an appropriate order. Allow Natural Death is the correct choice because it conveys that the patient wants to avoid aggressive, life-prolonging interventions and to let the dying process unfold with comfort-focused care. Documenting an AND order tells the care team to refrain from resuscitation or other measures intended to restart breathing or prolong life, while still providing comfort, symptom relief, and supportive presence for the patient and family. This phrasing centers the patient’s wish to have a natural death without invasive attempts to reverse it.

Other options would not align as precisely with the patient’s request. For example, all but CPR can allow other interventions besides CPR, which could contradict the desire to stop breathing without intervention. No extraordinary measures is similar to DNR in effect but lacks the specific, standard terminology that clearly communicates the intent in many settings, whereas Permit to die uses outdated or nonstandard language and isn’t the current professional designation.