Empowerment of dying patients: the strategies and barriers to patient autonomy

Abstract

The growing debate about the ability of the nurse to empower patients has featured frequently in the nursing journals over recent years. This paper seeks to address the issue around the need to empower dying patients by an examination of nurses' written reflections on critical incidents in their practice. Geertz's 'thick description' has been used to interpret the data. The issues of power and professionalism are central to the discussion. The results are tentative given the sample size but point towards a redefinition of the empathetic approach and the adoption of a 'facilitative' approach to the sharing of power. The paper recommends careful examination of the role of the nurse and the communication process to identify further barriers to patient empowerment.

Living with a terminal illness: patients’ priorities

“…This is endorsed by the literature on patient empowerment (Hewison 1995, Martin 1998) and participation in decisions (Ashworth et al 1992, Jewell 1994. This is endorsed by the literature on patient empowerment (Hewison 1995, Martin 1998) and participation in decisions (Ashworth et al 1992, Jewell 1994.…”

Self‐determination of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Model development during action research

“…Self‐determination is seen as a patient's resource that could be supported by strengthening the preconditions for self‐determination and by using different nursing interventions. This implies a transfer of power or authority from healthcare professionals to the patient, increasing opportunities for choice 43 and the freedom to make choices 44 . Further ways to promote self‐determination are: a new kind of nursing and management culture, the development of models and methods supportive of self‐determination, and noticing and respecting self‐determination in nursing practice.…”

Nurse–patient interaction: a review of the literature

“…Studies that were found which examined this social context of unequal power were related to patient decision‐making (Taylor et al. , 1989) patient autonomy (Martin, 1998), and mental health service needs of psychiatric mental health patients (Jackson & Stevenson, 2000). Hewiston (1995) and Johnson and Webb (1995) studied power dimensions in nurse–patient interactions.…”