Final answer:
Nurses communicate care goals by understanding the client's end-of-life care wishes or legal documents like living wills and DNR orders, ensuring care aligns with patient preferences and ethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nurses communicate the goals of care and treatment by knowing the end-of-life care wishes of the client or by obtaining that knowledge from legal documents such as living wills, advance directives, and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders. Knowledge of these documents and the patient's wishes facilitates care that aligns with the patient's preferences and ethical considerations in end-of-life situations. Additionally, in the context of hospice care, it is vital to ensure that comfort and dignity are prioritized when cure-oriented treatments are no longer an option.
The evolving landscape of hospice care reflects a societal shift towards acknowledging and respecting patients' desires at the end of life. Whether it involves in-home care or at a hospice center, these services focus on pain management and emotional support for both the patient and their family. End-of-life ethical concerns, such as the role of modern medicine in facilitating a patient's death, continue to challenge healthcare professionals, patients, and families alike.