Review of Literature The focus of the literature review will be on palliative care. Palliative care is a term often used during end of life care. With that being said, the decision of end of life or palliative care can be very difficult and at time there can be ethical issues that arise. Hopkins, Kott, Pirozzi, Deppoliti & Pond, et al., (2011) wrote an article common issues that arise when caring for patients with chronic renal disease and aiding them to make end of life decisions. The article talks about how nurses can help their patients make these decisions and how they can do that in a way that the patient is comfortable. The article identified that nurses at times are not comfortable approaching their patient about
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Samples of nurses from Germany were asked questions that often arise when caring for patients on hospice. Questions such as topics of care, conflict of interest and ethical questions were asked. Their answers to these questions allowed researchers to see how these nurses make decisions. The results found that there are collective and individual decisions. Collective meaning a broader term where nurses make decision based upon procedure guidelines. Individual meaning that nurses decide whether the smaller things are appropriate such as bathing or just shaving a patient. The article talks about how hospice nurses have to provide care but their care is not routine, it is individualized to each and every patient. Decisions that are made must be made in the best interest of the patient. There was a framework of mission statements and codes of ethics that will stand by nurses when they make these decisions. In the book No Good Deed, Amy mentions how she took an oath to do whatever she needs to do to make her patients comfortable. The American Nursing Association (2001) state that nurses should provide car to their patients when suffering in the end of life even if death is …show more content…
A study was conducted in Sweden about developing certain strategies that nurses can use when faced with ethical problems during end of life care in stroke patients. The study consisted of 19 participants who were all interviewed and asked 24 ethical problems. Through their answers researchers were able to see strategies that were preferred and not preferred by nurses who cared for patients at their end of life. Some not preferred strategies were continuing treatment, withholding decisions and going against family wishes. Some preferred strategies were changing decisions given the situation the patient is in, including the family in making decisions, informing them of the situation, meeting their requests and supporting them. This article really allows nurses to see where there are strengths and weaknesses when proving care. There is an obvious strength when involving family in the end of life
Samples of nurses from Germany were asked questions that often arise when caring for patients on hospice. Questions such as topics of care, conflict of interest and ethical questions were asked. Their answers to these questions allowed researchers to see how these nurses make decisions. The results found that there are collective and individual decisions. Collective meaning a broader term where nurses make decision based upon procedure guidelines. Individual meaning that nurses decide whether the smaller things are appropriate such as bathing or just shaving a patient. The article talks about how hospice nurses have to provide care but their care is not routine, it is individualized to each and every patient. Decisions that are made must be made in the best interest of the patient. There was a framework of mission statements and codes of ethics that will stand by nurses when they make these decisions. In the book No Good Deed, Amy mentions how she took an oath to do whatever she needs to do to make her patients comfortable. The American Nursing Association (2001) state that nurses should provide car to their patients when suffering in the end of life even if death is …show more content…
A study was conducted in Sweden about developing certain strategies that nurses can use when faced with ethical problems during end of life care in stroke patients. The study consisted of 19 participants who were all interviewed and asked 24 ethical problems. Through their answers researchers were able to see strategies that were preferred and not preferred by nurses who cared for patients at their end of life. Some not preferred strategies were continuing treatment, withholding decisions and going against family wishes. Some preferred strategies were changing decisions given the situation the patient is in, including the family in making decisions, informing them of the situation, meeting their requests and supporting them. This article really allows nurses to see where there are strengths and weaknesses when proving care. There is an obvious strength when involving family in the end of life