Communicating with patients and families about difficult end of life decisions

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

COMMUNICATING WITH PATIENTS AND FAMILIES ABOUT DIFFICULT END OF LIFE DECISIONS:

A GUIDE FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS

In order to deal with difficult decisions and to clarify the patient's

values and wishes about medical treatment, family-centered shared decision

making between patient (or surrogate) and their respective physician is a

widely recommended approach....

...We have found that, in the emotionally charged atmosphere of EOL

discussions, a structured path of deliberation with families allows for the

participants to communicate more effectively with each other and the

medical providers

[toomuchbaloney]

I appreciate that the recommended course of communication includes all of the relevant disciplines and calls for someone to lead the group giving permission for that leader to be an RN or MSW.