title: The nurse's role in end-of-life decision-making for patients and families.
abstract: This article discusses some of the cultural changes required for organizations to build systems that move beyond mere completion of the advance directive to advance care planning that affects end-of-life decision-making. It specifically describes one organization's educational approach to clarifying the role of the nurse as patient advocate within these cultural changes and suggests strategies to help the nurse gain necessary competence in end-of-life decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wis, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colvin
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care