Life-Support Interventions at the End of Life Unintended Consequences

OVERVIEW: Patients and family members often aren't aware that the use of life-support interventions at the end of life-when the body's systems and organs are failing-can have unintended consequences. Nurses need to be knowledgeable and able to communicate what they know about those consequences to patients, family members, and others on the health care team, leading to better decision making at this difficult time.