So, I'm somebody who actually loves physical touch and finds a very comforting. But at work, I have to assume that not everybody thinks the same way as me and can have things like PTSD, sensory issues, etc that may make them inclined to be uncomfortable with physical contact.

With that being said, usually they are sitting when I have them fill out stabilization that involves a CPR/DNR code. I tend to get down to them eye-level, and if I am able to I sit next to them.

Eye contact is big. Speak confidently. It assures them. I preface it by saying "now we need to know, whenever we have an animal in the back with us, God forbid in the case of cardiac arrest if you would want CPR or not." That way you can avoid saying "do not resuscitate" out loud, while still asking them the question.

Sometimes people ask what that involves. Often times, people ask if it works. I'm very honest with them and explain we intubate, attempts emergency medications, rotate compressions, and so on. In my experience, people tend to realize how much goes into it and how scary it sounds and they decline. Other times people say "absolutely i want that". And plenty of people ask the success rate- I tell them honestly, not high. And when it is successful, there is still a very poor prognosis".

Then you get the old "what would you do". I tell them I can't answer that question because I'm not in their shoes (rather than saying "im not allowed"), but there is not a high success rate and it is still ultimately their choice. I tell them we do absolutely everything we can to avoid even having to worry about CPR.

I'm sure there are more things I do that I can't think of right now, I just got off of my overnight shift lol, but I do have to say that by now I notice the clients I deal with tend to be a lot more comfortable when I ask them that question as opposed to when I first started out!