Medsurg nursing : official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
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Review of the literature revealed an association of pain and delirium in patients with hip fracture. Literature was sparse on pain and delirium in other types of patients. ⋯ The results revealed an association between low dose of analgesia and development of delirium for patients who are in pain. Nurses can increase their focus on adequate pain management for older patients.
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PAS is legal only in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. Studies show nurses receive requests for aid in dying from patients (Asch, 1996; Ferrell et al., 2000: Kuhse & Singer, 1993; Schwarz, 2003; Volker, 2003; Wurzbach, 2000). The simple answer to these requests is that the nurse is prohibited in participating in assisted suicide or euthanasia by the Code of Ethics for Nurses and by the ANA position statements (ANA, 1994). ⋯ However, nurses who support PAS speak of the patient's autonomous choice and their choice to assist in ending suffering of terminally ill patients. As more states pass ballot initiatives or laws supporting PAS, nurses will be faced with the legal choice to participate in the process of PAS by providing information on the option and attending to the patient who has taken the lethal drug. Nurses need to consider their comfort with the idea that patients may choose to accelerate dying.