title: Patients unsatisfied with palliative care: improving documentation that focuses on patients' needs.
abstract: As patients and families make the critical decision to end their life, the question becomes: What are we as nurses doing to focus on the needs of the patient and family? There is a lack of documentation when it comes to families (or the patient) making a decision for the withdrawal of life support, which may lead to a breakdown in communication between the family and medical professionals. Improving the documentation process can improve the nurse-patient relationship and communication as well as help put the family and patients at ease with their decision.
authors.affiliation: California State University, San Bernardino, CA, USA. valmrubio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voss
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D004282:Documentation; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010166:Palliative Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care