Oncology nurses' narratives about ethical dilemmas and prognosis-related communication in advanced cancer patients.

Background: Oncology nurses routinely encounter ethical dilemmas when caring for advanced cancer patients, particularly concerning prognosis-related communications. Nurses experience uncertainty and barriers to providing quality end-of-life care; thus, more information is needed about recognizing and managing these dilemmas and to clarify their role in these situations.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the frequency and types of ethical dilemmas experienced by oncology nurses caring for advanced cancer patients and (2) to summarize their written comments about prognosis-related communications.

Oncology nurses' attitudes toward prognosis-related communication: a pilot mailed survey of oncology nursing society members.

Purpose/objectives: To assess oncology nurses' attitudes toward prognosis-related communication and experiences of the quality of such communication among physicians.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Nationwide survey in the United States.