A nurse is admitting a client to an acute care facility. When providing teaching about living wills, the nurse should include which of the following Information?

A living will is an advance directive that documents a client's wishes regarding medical treatment, particularly end-of-life care such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and artificial nutrition. Teaching should emphasize that the document expresses the client's preferences so healthcare providers and family members can honor those wishes if the client becomes unable to communicate. The statement that this document expresses the client's wishes regarding medical care is therefore the correct and most complete description of a living will's purpose. The claim that a client must complete this document prior to receiving treatment is false — clients may complete or update advance directives at any time and cannot be denied care for not having one. A lawyer's signature is not required; living wills typically require only the client's signature and a witness or notary depending on state law. Notarization alone does not finalize a living will in all jurisdictions, and the requirements vary by state, so saying the document is finalized once notarized is an overstatement and potentially inaccurate. The nurse's role is to ensure the client understands the purpose of a living will and their right to create, modify, or revoke it at any time.