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Resuscitation discussion experiences of patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit
1Lutheran Hospital, LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Objective:
To learn about patients' feelings, beliefs, and values concerning resuscitation and to suggest the role for nurses in discussion of resuscitation options with patients.
Design:
Prospective, qualitative, phenomenological.
Setting:
Midwestern teaching hospital.
Patients:
Ten patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit. Age range was 67 to 89 years.
Results:
Participants described beliefs about life-sustaining interventions, decision making, and patient and family involvement, nurses' and physicians' roles in the decision-making process, and desire to know the truth about their health care options. Subjects also offered definitions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, resuscitation, and code in their own words.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that decision-making opportunities are important to patients. Because patients frequently feel comfortable discussing their feelings with nurses, nurses have the opportunity to initiate discussion of sensitive issues with patients.