The registered nurse: perceptions about advance directives

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Nursing Practice
• Patient Advocacy

Background:

• Professional mandates require nurses and physicians to advocate for patient involvement in end-of-life treatment decisions.
• This advocacy includes educating patients on advance directives and honoring their expressed wishes.
• Existing literature indicates potential uncertainty among nurses regarding their legal, moral, and ethical obligations in this area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate registered nurses' perceptions of the challenges and obligations associated with patient advocacy in end-of-life care.
• To understand the extent of uncertainty experienced by nurses concerning advance directives and patient autonomy.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study focusing on the perceptions of registered nurses.
• Data collected from a sample of nurses at a large southeastern university medical center.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings suggest that nurses perceive significant dilemmas in fulfilling their mandate as patient advocates for end-of-life decisions.
• Uncertainty regarding legal and ethical responsibilities in advance care planning was a prominent theme.

Conclusions:

• Registered nurses face complex challenges in advocating for patient participation in end-of-life treatment decisions.
• Further education and support are likely needed to address nurses' uncertainties about advance directives and ethical obligations.