Nurses 's Role For The Care Of Their Patients

A study conducted in Spain, to explore this exact issue, was preformed in 2012. The results were very compelling and showed a lack of education and resources to professional nurses needed to properly handle patients requesting more information on PAS. The study performed consisted of 35 questions to distinguish basic knowledge in this area, attitudes towards this topic, and their personal experience with these types of conversations with patients. Of the 390 returned surveys, 59% of participants were able to appropriately identify a case of euthanasia, while 64% were able to appropriately identify a case of PAS. Majority of those surveyed felt a stronger sense to support legalizing euthanasia versus PAS (Tamayo - Velazques, Simon-Lorda, Cruz-Piqueras, 2012). While this study was not conducted in the United Sates, it is clear that education of professional nurses on the topic of PAS and euthanasia is imperative as this practice gains more momentum. There is a need to develop a resource and education program for professional nurses that encounter questions regarding hospice, palliative care, and other end of life

Since nurses are a vital link between the patient, the family, and the physician, it is not uncommon for them to assume the role as their patients’ strongest advocates. In the countries and states where assisted suicide has been legalized, nurses have the largest involvement in caring for end-of-life patients in a variety of home or institutionalized settings (Holt, 2008). Of all the healthcare providers with whom patients first discussed their request for suicide, nurses comprised the majority at 37%

A literature review conducted by Crowe (2017) examines the role of ICU nurses in providing high quality end of life care in the ICU. He states that palliative nursing in the ICU is de-emphasized due to an increased focus on curative treatment. Four major themes have been identified that contribute to the poor management of critically ill patients needing palliative support. These themes include decision-making challenges, barriers, obtaining support and formation of guidelines to effectively implement comfort care therapies. Hence, a checklist has been developed to allow nurses to properly facilitate the provision of quality care to patients experiencing the end of life, as well as giving needed

As leaders, it is our duty to educate ourselves and be aware of what the needs for services such as this are within the community. As educators, it is our responsibility to insure that our future nurses are fully prepared to deliver expertise care. As nurses, we have a duty to advocate for our patients and provide the best care possible in any situation, even at the end of life. According to an article by Meier (2011), evidence discloses that those with serious illness or multiple chronic illnesses receive inadequate care when it comes to quality care at the end of life.

The 1973 case of Donald "Dax" Cowart, and the 2005 case of Terri Schiavo reveals the complex issues surrounding euthanasia, right to die, legal guardianship, and patient autonomy. These are issues that most nurses wish they did not have to face, but ultimately must during the course of our work. Nurses are on the front lines of patient care. In both the cases of Dax Cowart and of Terri Schiavo, nurses spent a great deal of time with the patients in their care. The nurse who worked with Dax Cowart admits that her compassionate and caring approach to practice allowed Dax, then known as Donald, to open up and speak openly about his wish to die. In the case of Shiavo, the patient was in a persistent vegetative state and could not speak for herself. Her family members spoke for her, which is why nurses here learn about the need to include families in treatment plans.

This ensures that the clients receive necessary interventions that are beyond the nurse’s scope of practice. When considering how to help each client and their family, a nurse needs not to go further than to simply ask. For acting as guides, this book provides valuable tips on how to walk with clients and their respective families through the dying experience. When a nurse acts as a guide, he or she must be able to combine his or her intuition with knowledge and communication skills in order to lead patients and their family in this last and difficult journey. Striving to become as competent and compassionate as one can, a nurse could leave a huge impact in the lives of the dying and those who are being left behind. Nurses are not only present to provide compassionate care but are also there to help the patient leave an everlasting legacy that their loved ones could never forget. Everyone who is involved with end-of-life care, whether they are part of the health care team or a family member, can truly benefit from reading this work. The patients themselves can benefit as this book can assist them to better understand what they are going through and become more aware of how much help is out there for them. This book has several strengths. Every chapter (or major topic) begins with a small anecdote or narrative of a patient’s dying experience. These narratives often involve nurses and family members. These

(10,11) Both Australian nurses and those who have been working in places with legalised euthanasia are looking for clarification of their professional and legal roles regarding euthanasia. (10,12) The Australia Nursing and Midwifery Association obliges nurses to work within the law but also supports nurses to respect a patient’s right to self-determination. They also advocate that nursing views cannot be ignored in discussion of euthanasia policy, given the involvement of nursing staff throughout the process. (12) Nursing perspectives of euthanasia corresponded with those of doctors, tending not to support euthanasia where it is illegal and being supportive in jurisdictions where it is legal.

Patient requested euthanasia is a controversial issue in today's society. As of now, four states have legalized Euthanasia. These states are, Washington, Oregon, California, and Vermont. Furthermore, once euthanasia was legalized in Oregon patient requests rose by 230 percent. Of course, there are complications with euthanasia that make it inconsistent. For example, a man named David Prueitt took the prescribed amount of a lethal drug, but awoke 65 hours later. Moreover, the system of distributing the lethal drugs is flawed. Personally, I believe in a patient’s right to request euthanasia, if done correctly and with overwhelming approval.

Nurses would justifiably become twisted about the fundamental and long-accepted principles of healthcare which include: beneficence (to do good); non-maleficence (to do no harm); justice (fairness); and autonomy (choice) (Blais & Hayes, 2016). If euthanasia were legalized, how should a nurse react if a person expresses a suicidal intent, or commits suicide, especially someone with a terminal illness? Preventing suicide is an integral responsibility of healthcare as governments are fully aware. Nurses have a responsibility to act to protect the life of a person who has attempted suicide, and to report suicide deaths to the Coroner. If euthanasia were legal, some laws and some healthcare policies would clash (Hosie, 2017). Nurses would also face an ethical or moral

Nurses have an obligation to provide timely, humane, comprehensive and compassionate end-of-life care. Nurses can demonstrate their respect, support and lasting commitment to their patients and families by creating compassionate care at end of life without participating in the euthanasia process (Purtillo & Doherty, 2011). Hospice care is an important part of the nursing practice and helping people die with dignity by providing them with the best possible care during their final moments and prevention of pain and making those who are near the end as comfortable as possible. Being able to choose your own end of life plan can prevent

In taking this approach this is essentially the essence of Aristotle’s “Golden Mean”, by trying to balance criticisms of aid in dying, and realties of what the impact aid in dying will have on society. In trying to find this balance the authors referred to the important role that nurses play in the day to day interactions with their patients, and their dual role of their interactions with the physicians. In having these dual roles, there must be a balance that is struck between the patient-nurse, patient- doctor, and nurse-doctor. In bringing seeing how the relationships of each of these are interconnected to say the least, it makes the most sense to try and find where the middle ground can be reached where all 3 can come out with just the right amount of

Nurses can help by facilitating discussions about the end of life early in treatment plan discussion. Strengthening communication between staff, and encouraging reflection by providers are also issues to be addressed. Nurses today accomplish more than simply give solace to patients at the end of their life. They additionally support patients in making troublesome choices with

Nursing is such a beautiful profession that allows us to be a part of the lives of patients from the beginning all the way to the end. It is a fact that our population is growing older and individuals are living longer. As nurses, today more than ever, we must be educated about end of life, grieving process and how cultural differences affect that process. According with the National Institute of Aging (2012), “End-of-life care is the term used to describe the support and medical care given during the time surrounding death”. The end of life, how people die and how they prefer to die differ from person to person. Thanks, in large part to advances in public health, medicine, and health care, most Americans no longer die suddenly from injury or infection. Instead, we live

This essay is a formal academic manuscript that was written to provide personal bias about the topic of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. More specifically the essay addresses the religious aspects of this topic and what role it plays in the conflict. I, the author, am applying to the nursing school at IVY Tech. The audience for this piece of writing will be other nursing students whom will also be involved in this complicated topic. These students will be enrolled in the IVY Tech Nursing program, in the next two years. There are many people will not be directly affected by this topic. Hopefully, this essay will provide an educated opinion for these nursing students. The goal is to persuade any of them to think or acknowledge this controversial topic. The goal is for students to focus on this relevant issue in their soon to be workplace before the conflict is front and center with one of their patients. Many people are brought up with one belief or the other. This essay provides one perspective on the this topic. It pushes the reader to ask him/herself questions, which they may not have done previously.

There is no black and white when a terminally ill patient is dealing with the thought of ending their life. The personal value that would be triggered in dealing with euthanasia, is my spiritual values. My religious upbringing reiterated that only God should determine when an individual’s life should end. However, as the years have passed, my undergraduate studies, and personal health experiences with family members my perspective has shifted to neutral. I now view each situation as an isolated issue. I am able to set aside my own values; and be empathic towards my client’s situation regardless of my values. The desire for a terminally ill patient to end their life is not a black and white decision. There is much