Perceptions about advance directives by nurses in a community hospital

Despite the legal mandate for hospitals to comply with the Patient Self-Determination Act and recommendations by the American Nurses' Association for nurses to advocate for the participation of patients in end-of-life decisions, nurses' compliance has been less than enthusiastic. This study used an exploratory descriptive design and a 10-item self-reported questionnaire, which included both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. This study examined nurses' knowledge and comfort with the implementation of the Patient Self-Determination Act. An analysis of this research shows that two major themes emerged: a need for more education involving advance directives and a desire to have other healthcare workers involved in informing patients about advance directives.