Am I dying nurse?

Abstract

Tensions exist with regard to truth-telling about dying. Attitudes and opinions of doctors and nurses impact upon patients and their families. While traditionally doctors have assumed the role of telling patients and/or families, the nurse practitioner often has a closer relationship with the patient and may be the most appropriate person to answer the question "Am I dying?" If nurses accept they have a moral obligation to tell the truth then it is imperative that clinicians, researchers, educators, and the consumers of health services, deliberate on what truth-telling is. Cultural implications of both-truth telling and dying are little understood in New Zealand. The multi-cultural nature of New Zealand provides an opportunity for nurse researchers to address the many issues raised by the question "Am I dying, nurse?"