Questioning the Persistent Vegetative State

This paper concerns the topic of the Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) and some of the ethical dilemmas surrounding it. PVS is defined as a “condition in which the patient is wakeful but devoid of conscious content, without cognitive or affective mental function” (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010, p. 1857). This is an important subject to nurses as they are called to be advocates for patients and endeavor to “do no harm.” The primary loyalty of the nurse is to the patient. We are expected to be advocates especially to vulnerable populations. Patients have the right to self determination but those in persistent vegetative states may be vulnerable to the wishes of their surrogates or medical providers in the case of misdiagnosis. Nurses, being the closest healthcare provider to the patient, can offer enlightenment and information that other members of a multidisciplinary team cannot. It is pertinent for nurses to become more informed about these issues and to educate others.UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF NURSING BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM AND DELTA CHAPTER OF SIGMA THETA INTERNATIONALEditorial Mandatory Gardasil Vaccination in Adolescents Biethman, E Adolescent Bariatric Surgery: A life saving procedure or another failing technique Blurton, B R To Treat or Not To Treat? Cancer During Pregnancy Dudley, K It’s a Thin Line Between Confidentiality and Disclosing Patient Information. Horn, K G Ethical Considerations of Pharmaceutical Colonialism Lee, A Questioning the Persistent Vegetative State Medis, K J Pediatric Advance Directives: A Voice for the Voiceless Nelson, H Patient Autonomy and End-of-Life Care: Cross-Cultural Considerations Silvey, L Family Presence During Resuscitation in Adult Patients Tafreshi, D R Women’s Self-Help Groups in India: Gender Equity, a Human Right Wurtz,

The Journal of Undergraduate Nursing Writing, Volume 5, Issue 1, August 2011

The articles presented in this volume originated as assignments completed by students as part of their senior level coursework. The original call for papers did not limit their entries to any particular topic. All of the manuscripts received came from papers submitted in the Legal/Ethical Nursing course.UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF NURSING BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM AND DELTA CHAPTER OF SIGMA THETA INTERNATIONALEditorial Mandatory Gardasil Vaccination in Adolescents Biethman, E Adolescent Bariatric Surgery: A life saving procedure or another failing technique Blurton, B R To Treat or Not To Treat? Cancer During Pregnancy Dudley, K It’s a Thin Line Between Confidentiality and Disclosing Patient Information. Horn, K G Ethical Considerations of Pharmaceutical Colonialism Lee, A Questioning the Persistent Vegetative State Medis, K J Pediatric Advance Directives: A Voice for the Voiceless Nelson, H Patient Autonomy and End-of-Life Care: Cross-Cultural Considerations Silvey, L Family Presence During Resuscitation in Adult Patients Tafreshi, D R Women’s Self-Help Groups in India: Gender Equity, a Human Right Wurtz,