The role of the nurse in the patient self-determination act.

The passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) in November 1990 marked an important step in assuring that individuals' choices regarding health care matters would be honored. This paper reports the results of a descriptive survey of hospitals and nursing homes about the role of the nurse in the implementation of the PSDA. Although exploratory, results of this survey indicate that nurses are assuming varied roles in carrying out the dictates of the PSDA. Differences between the role responsibilities of the nurse in a hospital and a nursing home are noted. It was concluded that community education about the PSDA is vital to its success and that nurses need to assume a more active role.