Patients unsatisfied with palliative care: improving documentation that focuses on patients' needs.

As patients and families make the critical decision to end their life, the question becomes: What are we as nurses doing to focus on the needs of the patient and family? There is a lack of documentation when it comes to families (or the patient) making a decision for the withdrawal of life support, which may lead to a breakdown in communication between the family and medical professionals. Improving the documentation process can improve the nurse-patient relationship and communication as well as help put the family and patients at ease with their decision.