Critical Analysis
In a qualitative study, Bryon, Gastmans & de Casterle (2012) explored the experiences of nurses with nurse-physician communication that occurred during decision-making for artificial nutrition or hydration (ANH) among hospitalised dementia patients. Twenty-one nurses in nine hospitals in Belgium were selected for semi-structured interviews as they reflected a wide range of personal characteristics and practice experiences. Successful advocacy for the dying patient and his family, a nurse’s ethical responsibility, depends on the quality of interdisciplinary communication. From data analysis which used a grounded theory framework emerged three factors influencing the nurse-physician communication: the attitudes of physicians toward nurses, the attitude of nurses toward ...
