Nurses’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Advance Care Planning, an Ethical Responsibility

Abstract

Discussions around advance care planning (ACP) do not mean making decisions about what to do at the end of life, but how to cope with disease and treatment. Studies suggest that HPs and patients are ambivalent when talking about death and end of treatments and often avoid these conversations. Results show that discussions around ACP with advanced cancer patients reduced patients’ overly optimistic chances of survival, thereby reducing aggressiveness of medical care near death. Discussions around ACP offer patients opportunity to define their goals and expectations for the medical care they want to receive. Advance directives and living wills are tools of ACP that are written instructions regarding one’s medical care preferences. Having open communication on patients’ wishes on ACP is beneficial for patients. This informs them of medication and treatment plans that are available for them at the beginning of diagnosis, thereby allowing them to make informed decisions that lead to a better quality of life. In light of this evidence, exploring nurses’ perceptions that are ingrained by their own beliefs and values around the use of advance care plans for planning end-of-life will help them examine their own ethical responsibility in their role as healthcare providers. This knowledge can be used for educating nurses who are future primary care providers. It is a professional responsibility, especially since many nurses with a graduate degree may work in oncology settings [1,2].