Overview Write an article for a community newsletter for a local retirement village that explains the laws, policies, and choices surrounding end-of-life health care decisions. By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria: Competency 1: Explain the effect of health care policies, legislation, and legal issues on health care delivery and patient outcomes. ◦Identify the primary policies that define current health care practices in regard to end-of-life health care decisions. ◦Explain the legislation that generated end-of-life health care policies. Competency 2: Explain the effect of regulatory environments and controls on health care delivery and patient outcomes. ◦Explain the effect of end-of-life regulations and controls on patient outcomes. Competency 3: Apply professional nursing ethical standards and principles to the decision-making process. ◦Describe the role of the nurse in end-of-life decision making with patients and their families. ◦Describe the ethical considerations that have influenced policy decisions in regard to end-of-life decisions. Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is consistent with expectations of nursing professionals. ◦ Write content clearly and logically, with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. ◦Correctly format citations and references using APA style. Context Nurses are at the bedside during the dying process; they spend entire shifts with patients and families; they develop trusting relationships; and they are competent to assess patient and family needs. Nurses gain a unique perspective that allows them to become aware when a patient is not responding to treatment. This perspective places nurses in a position to facilitate end-of-life decision making.
