How Can We Afford to Die?

PITMAN, N.J., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone deserves to die with choice and dignity. Unfortunately, in America that is often not the case.

Dying can be a costly, high-stress event, filled with bureaucratic red tape, emotionally wrought families, insurance tangles, and legal disputes. On a broader scale, the nation's political policies can further complicate matters, as well as the persistent cloud of a struggling economy.

Nursing Economic$, The Journal for Health Care Leaders, examines the controversial issues surrounding the process of dying in a special May/June 2012 issue. The journal presents extensive evidence and research from nurse leaders, as well as workable solutions.

"Now is the time to bury past demons and discussions surrounding 'death panels' and replace them with conversations on progressive approaches to expanding hospice and palliative care, and the use of advanced directives [living wills] in the United States," said Donna Nickitas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, and Nursing Economic$ editor. (Read the editorial.)

The special issue contains articles that detail skyrocketing costs, the discomfort people experience in talking about death, and the emotional strain of end-of-life care. Six research reports are also presented. The authors outline alternatives to the care individuals usually receive at the end of life. (Read select articles from the Special Issue.)

To learn more and to order a copy of this special issue, visit www.nursingeconomics.net.

Conversation Continues at June Summit

The Hospice-Palliative Care Action Plan will be presented at the Opening Session of the 5th Nursing Economic$ Summit, "How Can We Afford to Die?" on June 6, 2012, in Washington, DC. Top experts will lead the session and attendees will learn how to integrate the action plan into their education, practice, and research agenda.

The Summit continues until June 8 with a wide variety of sessions. Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will present, "Affordable Care Act: Impact on Health Care and Nursing." Her session will precede the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the Act later in June.

Additional topics include staffing based on evidence, policy and politics. The theme of the summit is "Restructuring and Aligning Health Care Practice to New Systems."

For additional information, visit www.nursingeconomics.net, or call 856-256-2300.

SOURCE Nursing Economic$