A self-defeating cycle has been identified where neither resident nor staff are optimistic about achieving more resident control and choice, which both groups perceive as desirable. To end this cycle, suggestions are offered for structuring the role of the nursing assistant, physician and nurse leadership, changes in nursing home routines and practices, and public policy changes.

This article deals with nurses' ethical concerns raised by the consequences of changes in governmental and institutional policies on nursing practice and patient care. The aims of this project were to explore perspectives of registered nurses who provide or manage direct patient care on policies that affect nursing and patient care, and to provide input to policy makers for the development of more patient-centred policies. Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 36 registered nurse participants. The project team identified major themes that emerged in the analysis of transcripts of the focus group discussions. The four major themes were: effects of policy focused on cost containment, effects on quality of care, effects on patient education and access to needed services, and effects on nurses and nursing. The participants identified primarily negative effects of changes in national health policy and legislation that influence institutional policies on patient care and nursing practice. The effects of identified policy changes raised concerns about meeting nurses' ethical obligations to patients and families. Participants specified key points for consideration by legislators and other policy makers. They viewed nurses who are involved in direct patient care as a critical resource for legislators and other policy makers in the development of public and institutional policies that affect nursing and patient care.

A dramatic increase in the number of ethics committees in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) has occurred since 1970 in the 487 nursing homes in Minnesota. Ten percent of the LTCFs had ethics committees which were mostly formed by administrators and nurses. The committees are most often found in large urban facilities with a high percentage of skilled-level beds and a religious name. The committees are multidisciplinary with a median of nine members including two to three nurses, a physician, a social worker, a minister, an administrator, and three other members. Nearly all committees were involved in policy development and staff education. Additional functions included resident care consultation and retrospective case review. More than half of the committees are accountable to administration. Nearly all committees kept minutes. Though all committees incurred costs, only one had a formal budget. Informal evaluation is done in only six committees. No committee had referred cases to the courts.

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