Who's In Charge When You Can't Decide? A Nurse's Guide to Advance Directives, POLST, and Making Your Wishes Count

When a health crisis leaves you unable to speak for yourself, having clear, usable instructions can mean the difference between care that reflects your values and care you never wanted. In this episode Nurse Jessi explains, in plain language, what advance directives, living wills, durable medical power of attorney, and POLST forms are — and, more importantly, how they work in real hospitals and ambulances. You’ll get a step-by-step checklist for creating documents that clinicians will honor, where to store them, how to share them with loved ones and providers, and what to do when forms conflict or are ignored. This episode is for patients, caregivers, and anyone who wants to take practical control of future medical decision-making without legal confusion or overwhelm.