End of life care is one of the most taboo topics in American society as it requires those involved to acknowledge that their lives will eventually come to an end. Planning for such an outcome can be difficult but ultimately it is necessary in order to save others from dealing with the burden of end of life care while unprepared. As a nurse it is especially important to have a firm grasp of the many different factors that weigh in decisions related to end of life care and be ready to assist both the patient and his or her family in any way needed when that time may come. A careful examination of the resources available in a community to assist with this care, the gaps in care prevalent in American society today, the cultural …show more content…
One main gap issue is the fact that many Americans are dying in hospitals rather than at home (Razmaria, 2016). Dying in a hospital can be beneficial because it keeps medical professionals nearby at all times but it can also seem distant and cold to others including family and friends who must come to terms with seeing their loved ones pass in a sterile and foreign environment (Hunt, Shlomo, & Addington-Hall, 2014). In addition to this the general approach towards end of life care has been manipulated in the US to demonstrate a resistance to accepting death as an inevitable fate. Even as patients slip into worse and worse conditions, doctors are motivated to continue pushing for treatment and different procedures (Bynum, et.al, 2013). Many individuals who are in these situations may find it more peaceful and less stressful if they worry about addressing their own comfort needs before subjecting themselves to unnecessary and ultimately futile attempts to prolong life by any means