Do We Really Listen, Improving End-of-Life Conversations

Having end-of-life (EOL) conversations is often difficult for even seasoned clinicians. There are many well-developed conversation guidelines used in the specialty of palliative medicine. There is no one ultimate guide that makes having an emotion-filled conversation easy. However, using the tenets of medical ethics, cloaked with experience, compassion, empathy, and respect makes EOL conversations less traumatic for the patient –family system and for the provider. Palliative specialists have the training and experience in effectively having EOL conversations, especially when death is unavoidable. Utilizing shared decision making, palliative specialists ensure there is mutual respect and communication between providers an d the family system.
Source: Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America - Category: Nursing Authors: Source Type: research