End-of-life issues

A patient's desire to discuss end-of-life (EOL) choices may be among the most stressful situations for clinicians. Research confirms the importance of discussions between caregivers and patients or their surrogates about options for current and future care. Often, terminally ill patients want to discuss EOL options to avoid undue suffering, pain, and other symptoms and want some reassurance that caregivers can provide effective physical, psychosocial, and spiritual care. Patients often approach nurses first and ask for their assistance before they ask other professionals; they are more likely to ask nurses in home care than in other settings.