Conclusion

Applying a case to law and ethics helps to understand how both are involved in the care advanced practice nurses can confront. We know that healthcare is only going to become more complex as time progresses and as a palliative care nurse practitioner, end of care issues are commonplace. It is necessary that we have the skills to carefully access and evaluate the regulations that govern our care. Just as important is the ability to readily identify ethical challenges and have confidence in our abilities to act with moral integrity, respecting others, preserving good, and countering harm. Palliative sedation is a controversial subject that is not fully protected at this time. A clearer appreciation for the complexity of defining true intentions should be more fully explored. Advanced studies that promote sound clinical guidelines in this practice are essential to safeguard the care palliative nurse practitioners participate in. We need to discuss these matters precursor to and independent of emotionally charged scenarios such as Annie’s so we have frameworks that offer the best care while still protecting the interests of the nurse practitioners involved. As we nurture our reasoning talents by study and experience, we can be examples to other nurses and heroes for our profession.