What is a 'durable power of attorney for healthcare'?

A durable power of attorney for healthcare (also called a healthcare proxy or healthcare surrogate) is a legal document in which a competent adult designates another person to make healthcare decisions if the client becomes incapacitated and unable to make decisions themselves. The 'durable' aspect means it remains in effect during the client's incapacity. The designated proxy should: know the client's wishes and values; be willing to advocate per those wishes; be available and engaged when needed. The proxy operates based on either: substituted judgment (what the client would have wanted) or best interest (what is in the client's best interest if their wishes are unknown). A living will documents the client's specific treatment preferences, while the healthcare proxy designates a decision-maker. Together they form advance directives. The nurse documents whether the client has advance directives and ensures documentation is in the chart.