This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hildén, H.-M. Articles by Palo, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hildén, H.-M. Articles by Palo, J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Finnish Nurses’ Views on End-of-Life Discussions and a Comparison with Physicians’ Views

University of Helsinki, Finland, hhilden{at}helsinki.fi

Pekka Louhiala

University of Helsinki, Finland

Marja-Liisa Honkasalo

University of Helsinki, Finland

Jorma Palo

University of Helsinki, Finland

This study investigated Finnish nurses’ experiences and views on end-of-life decision making and compared them with physicians’ views. For this purpose, a questionnaire was sent to 800 nurses, of which 51% responded. Most of the nurses had a positive attitude towards and respect for living wills, more often than physicians. Most also believed that a will had an effect on decision making. Almost all of the nurses considered it their responsibility to talk to physicians about respecting living wills. Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders were often interpreted to imply partial or complete palliative (symptom-orientated) care, which may cause confusion. Half of the nurses reported that a DNR decision was discussed always or often with a patient who was able to communicate; physicians were more positive in this respect. Surprisingly, many nurses (44%) stated that active treatment continued too long. Two-thirds thought that their opinions were taken into account sufficiently, even though only half believed that, in general, they had some impact.

Key Words: DNR orders • end-of-life decisions • living wills • nurse-patient relationship

Nursing Ethics, Vol. 11, No. 2, 165-178 (2004)
DOI: 10.1191/0969733004ne681oa


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Wadensten, S. Wenneberg, M. Silen, Ping Fen Tang, and G. Ahlstrom A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Nurses' Ethical Concerns Nursing Ethics, November 1, 2008; 15(6): 745 - 760. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Silen, M. Svantesson, and G. Ahlstrom Nurses' Conceptions of Decision Making Concerning Life-Sustaining Treatment Nursing Ethics, March 1, 2008; 15(2): 160 - 173. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S S Venneman, P Narnor-Harris, M Perish, and M Hamilton "Allow natural death" versus "do not resuscitate": three words that can change a life J. Med. Ethics, January 1, 2008; 34(1): 2 - 6. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Carmel, P. Werner, and H. Ziedenberg Physicians' and Nurses' Preferences in Using Life-Sustaining Treatments Nursing Ethics, September 1, 2007; 14(5): 665 - 674. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H-M Hilden, M-L Honkasalo, and P Louhiala Finnish doctors and the realisation of patient autonomy in the context of end of life decision making. J. Med. Ethics, June 1, 2006; 32(6): 316 - 320. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Svantesson, P. Sjokvist, H. Thorsen, and G. Ahlstrom Nurses' and Physicians' Opinions on Aggressiveness of Treatment for General Ward Patients Nursing Ethics, March 1, 2006; 13(2): 147 - 162. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H.-M. Hilden and M.-L. Honkasalo Finnish Nurses' Interpretations of Patient Autonomy in the Context of End-of-Life Decision Making Nursing Ethics, January 1, 2006; 13(1): 41 - 51. [Abstract] [PDF]