Last Updated on January 16, 2025 by Analgesia team
DNAR Medical Abbreviation
DNAR stands for “do not attempt resuscitation“. It’s a medical abbreviation that refers to a decision made by a patient, their doctor, or healthcare team instructing the medical team not to attempt to restart a patient’s heart or breathing if it stops. DNAR is sometimes used interchangeably with DNR, which means “do not resuscitate“.
DNAR orders can be appropriate for any patient who is at risk of cardiopulmonary arrest, regardless of age or terminal illness status.
A patient’s advance directive is another way to communicate their medical care preferences. An advance directive can be tailored to a patient’s specific circumstances and is more likely to be followed than a DNR.
The hospital will document the decision in the patient’s chart, along with the patient’s wishes and values that led to the decision. It’s important to communicate the DNAR decision to everyone involved in the patient’s care, such as nurses and care home staff.