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Advance directives and opportunities for nurses
1Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, VA, USA.
Image--The Journal of Nursing Scholarship
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Nurses are underutilized in advance directives (ADs) practice and research. This review identifies roles and opportunities for nurses to improve end-of-life care through advance care planning and patient advocacy.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Bioethics
- Health Policy
Background:
- Advance directives (ADs), including living wills and durable power of attorney, are crucial for expressing end-of-life decisions.
- Technical, social, and economic factors drive the need for ADs.
- Nurses have limited involvement in current ADs practice and research despite opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on advance directives.
- To identify outcomes related to ADs.
- To examine the historical background and ethical issues of ADs.
- To suggest roles for nurses in ADs.
- To identify research and practice opportunities for nurses regarding ADs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (1983-1996) and MEDLINE (1985-1996).
Main Results:
- Identified a gap in nursing participation in ADs practice and research.
- Examined historical and ethical considerations of ADs.
- Suggested specific roles for nurses in ADs implementation and research.
- Highlighted opportunities for nurses in advance care planning and patient advocacy.
Conclusions:
- Nurses can play a vital role in promoting advance directives.
- Increased nursing involvement can enhance patient autonomy and end-of-life care.
- Further research and practice initiatives are needed to integrate nurses into ADs processes.
Keywords:
Death and Euthanasia