May a nursing assistant follow a POLST order stating DNAR?

Yes. Nursing Assistants may follow the CPR/DNAR order in Section A of the POLST. Nursing assistants and other non-credentialed UAP may use nursing judgment in emergency situations. A patient without a heartbeat, even if death is expected, is in an emergency situation. A nursing assistant with appropriate training may assess the patient's vital signs and decide if a heartbeat is present. If there is no heartbeat, a nursing assistant may follow a patient's POLST order Section A to start CPR or to provide comfort measures and allow a natural death, depending on the patient's POLST.