Final answer:
A nurse helping a hospice patient make informed health decisions is acting as an advocate, ensuring the patient's preferences are respected and promoting dignity and autonomy in end-of-life care.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse acting to help a patient on hospice make an informed decision about his own health and life is performing the role of an advocate. In this capacity, the nurse is supporting the patient's right to make personal choices about treatment options and ensuring that the patient's voice is heard and respected in the decision-making process. This advocacy allows the patient, particularly in a hospice setting, to maintain autonomy and dignity during the end-of-life care.
Research has shown that hospice care, which focuses on providing a death with dignity and pain management in a comfortable environment, often outside of a hospital setting, can have positive outcomes for both patients and their families. Patients appreciate being able to stay at home, around familiar surroundings, and families benefit from reduced caregiving burdens, emotional support, and improved coping mechanisms. A nurse advocating for hospice care is central to facilitating these benefits by ensuring that patient preferences are respected and that relevant information is communicated effectively.
In the context of hospice care, the roles of counselor, caregiver, and communicator are also important, but the role of an advocate is most clearly demonstrated when a nurse actively supports a patient in making choices that align with the patient's values and wishes for end-of-life care