A client is admitted to the hospital and states, "I already have an advance directive." Which of the following actions by the nurse is most appropriate?

When a client states they already have an advance directive, the most appropriate nursing action is to ask the client to provide a copy for the medical record. Advance directives are legal documents that guide care decisions, particularly in situations where a client cannot speak for themselves. For the document to be legally effective and accessible to the care team, it must be present in the medical record. Without a copy on file, staff cannot reference or honor the directive during a critical moment. Reviewing the advance directive with the client to ensure it aligns with the provider's plan of care oversteps the nurse's role; the directive reflects the client's wishes, not the provider's plan, and the client is not obligated to align these. Explaining that advance directives are only used in end-of-life situations is inaccurate and potentially discouraging — advance directives can address a wide range of situations. Encouraging the client to update the directive before receiving care is unnecessary and presumptuous unless the client expresses a desire to change it. Obtaining a copy for the medical record is the straightforward, legally sound, and client-centered action the nurse should take first.