title: Dealing with advance directives for critically ill adolescents.
abstract: Respecting the values and preferences of adolescents regarding treatment is an essential dimension of nursing practice. As public policy and societal thinking about the role of minors in healthcare decisions evolves, critical care nurses are in a pivotal position to provide leadership and guidance. Critical care nurses who care for adolescents should embrace the opportunity created by the PSDA to implement creative strategies for involving minors in decision making, seek improved methods of assessing decision-making capacity, and document the values and preferences of minors.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rushton
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D032882:Comprehension; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D030881:Disclosure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033242:Minors; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D028761:Withholding Treatment