This is a basic discussion board question that has to be answered in several paragraphs
with at least 1 reference. Talk about decisions nurses face and how they also have to be
patient advocates during this time. Thanks!
Ethical Decision Making for End of LIfe Care
Nurses have the responsibility to ensure that end of life care is handled appropriately
with a lot of care. This ethical decision issues require decisive decision making to avoid any
conflict between the family members and the nurses. Nurses face challenges end of life care
decision.
Nurses face various decision challenges during end of life care. One of the challenges is
decision to provide resuscitation treatment. This treatment uses technology to maintain the
breathing and heart functions of the patients (Epstein, 2010). Another is to withhold and
withdraw medical treatment to patients that are seriously ill or injured and approaching death,
pain management decisions to patients nearing death, and decision about nutrition and hydration
among others (Epstein, 2010). All these decisions are very critical and require ethical
consideration in their s management.
Similarly, nurses have to act as patients advocate during end of life care. They are
expected to have enough skills and knowledge to handle such instances or cases when they
encounter them. They have various obligations in the decision-making including talking to the
family members and informing them about end of life care and the need to withdraw treatment or
not. They must provide appropriate options based on ethical standards, prepare the family
members in advance, give them comfort through company, advocate and create peace and
ETHICAL DECISION MAKING FOR END OF LIFE CARE 2
normalcy and be able to provide comfort (Epstein, 2010). This will help to greater magnitude to
reduce conflict during end of life care.
In conclusion, nurses have the responsibility to ensure that decisions on end of life care
are ethical. They must also assist their patients during such moments to enhance quality
healthcare and avoid conflicts.
ETHICAL DECISION MAKING FOR END OF LIFE CARE 3
Reference
Epstein, E. (2010). Moral obligations of nurses and physicians in neonatal end-of-life care.
Nursing Ethics, 17(5): 577-589.