DNR Medical Abbreviation
What does DNR mean in medical terms?
What is DNR?
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is a medical order that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient's heart stops beating or they stop breathing. It is a legally recognized directive that reflects a patient's informed decision to allow a natural death rather than pursue aggressive resuscitation efforts. A DNR order is documented in a patient's medical record and must be honored by all members of the care team.
What DNR Stands For and Where the Term Comes From
DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate. The term entered widespread clinical use in the 1970s as hospitals began formalizing policies around CPR, which had become a standard intervention following its development in the 1960s. Before these policies existed, CPR was routinely attempted on all patients whose hearts stopped, regardless of their underlying condition or personal wishes. The DNR order was created to give patients a legal and documented way to refuse that intervention.
The word "resuscitate" comes from the Latin resuscitare, meaning to revive or bring back to life. In clinical practice, resuscitation refers specifically to the physical interventions used when someone enters cardiac or respiratory arrest: chest compressions, electric shocks from a defibrillator, breathing tubes, and medications designed to restart the heart. A DNR order tells the medical team not to initiate any of these measures.
How DNR Orders Are Used in Clinical Settings
A DNR order appears in a patient's medical chart as a physician-signed document. In a hospital, it is typically placed at the front of the chart or flagged in the electronic health record so that every care provider, including nurses, respiratory therapists, and emergency responders, can immediately identify it. Some hospitals use a colored wristband to signal DNR status at a glance during an emergency.
Outside the hospital, a DNR can take the form of an out-of-hospital DNR (OOH-DNR) or a similar state-specific form. These documents are kept at home and presented to paramedics or emergency medical technicians if 911 is called. Without this paperwork, emergency responders are legally required to attempt resuscitation. Patients in long-term care facilities, hospice programs, or receiving home health services should ensure their DNR status is clearly communicated and documented across every care setting they use.
A DNR order is established through a conversation between the patient (or their legal healthcare proxy) and the treating physician. The physician explains the patient's medical situation, what CPR would involve, and the realistic likelihood of it being effective. The patient then makes an informed decision, which the physician translates into a formal order.
What a DNR Order Means in Practice for Patients
A DNR order does not mean "do not treat." This is one of the most important distinctions patients and families need to understand. A patient with a DNR order continues to receive all other appropriate medical care: pain management, antibiotics, IV fluids, oxygen, cancer treatment, surgery, and any other intervention they and their doctor agree is beneficial. The order applies only to CPR in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Choosing a DNR is often appropriate for patients with advanced illness, terminal diagnoses, or conditions where CPR is unlikely to restore meaningful function. Studies have shown that CPR survival rates vary significantly depending on a patient's underlying health. For someone with late-stage cancer or multi-organ failure, CPR may cause injury, pain, and an undignified death without extending life in any meaningful way. A DNR allows a patient to define what "good care" means to them at the end of life.
A DNR order can be changed or revoked at any time. Patients who later decide they want resuscitation attempted can simply inform their physician, and the order will be rescinded. The decision belongs to the patient and should never feel permanent or irreversible.
DNR Compared to Related Advance Directive Terms
DNR is one of several abbreviations patients may encounter when making end-of-life care decisions. A closely related term is DNI, which stands for Do Not Intubate. A patient may have a DNR without a DNI, meaning they do not want CPR but are willing to have a breathing tube placed if needed. Conversely, some patients have both orders together.
POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a broader document that can include DNR and DNI preferences alongside decisions about hospitalization, artificial nutrition, and other interventions. Unlike an advance directive or living will, a POLST is an actual medical order signed by a physician, giving it immediate legal force with emergency responders and care providers. AND (Allow Natural Death) is a newer phrase some institutions use instead of DNR because it frames the decision around comfort and dignity rather than withholding treatment. Patients may see either term depending on the hospital or health system they use.
Questions About DNR
What does DNR mean in medical terms?▾
DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate. It is a physician-signed medical order that instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR if a patient's heart stops or they stop breathing. The order reflects the patient's informed choice to allow a natural death rather than undergo resuscitation efforts.
What does DNR stand for?▾
DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate. The term refers specifically to the decision not to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which includes chest compressions, defibrillation, breathing tubes, and cardiac medications, in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Does a DNR mean no treatment at all?▾
No. A DNR order applies only to CPR during a cardiac or respiratory arrest. All other forms of medical treatment, including pain control, antibiotics, chemotherapy, surgery, or oxygen therapy, continue as normal unless separate decisions are made about those interventions.
Who can request a DNR order?▾
A competent adult patient can request a DNR order at any time by speaking with their physician. If a patient cannot make decisions for themselves, a legally designated healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare may make this decision on their behalf. The physician then writes the order and places it in the patient's chart.
Where does a DNR order appear in a patient's records?▾
In a hospital, a DNR order is documented in the patient's medical chart, typically flagged in the electronic health record or placed at the front of a paper chart. Patients may also receive a colored wristband indicating their status. Outside the hospital, a separate out-of-hospital DNR form is used and should be kept accessible at home.
Can a DNR order be reversed?▾
Yes. A DNR order can be revoked by the patient at any time, for any reason. The patient simply informs their physician of the change, and the order is cancelled. The decision is not permanent, and patients should feel free to revisit it as their health situation or preferences change.
What is the difference between DNR and DNI?▾
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) means no CPR if the heart stops, while DNI (Do Not Intubate) means no breathing tube will be placed. These are separate orders and a patient can have one without the other. Some patients choose both, while others may refuse intubation but still want chest compressions attempted.
How is a DNR different from a POLST or advance directive?▾
An advance directive or living will expresses a patient's general wishes in writing but is not itself a medical order. A POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a physician-signed medical order that carries immediate legal weight and can include DNR preferences along with other care decisions. A DNR is a specific order that may stand alone or be incorporated into a POLST, depending on the care setting.