Good question. It seems others are studying various aspects of decision making by nurses regarding end of life care. I know from research and my experiences as a hospice supervisor nurses change their perspective when a patient has a death-bed communication, as does the patient. Patients typically are less anxious and require less medication. It would seem the results of the studies others have recommended and the one I've attached would serve as a great basis for the development of a tool to be tested. It would be good to have one available.
Article The Incidence of Deathbed Communications and Their Impact on...
I just want to say..your question got me confused, because it has two main parts:
1. perception of nurses towards EOL decisions
2. desicioin making at EOL, but such decisions are made by patients themselves ( right...we advocate for what patients want, and not try to be paternalistic)
so, are you trying to find out nurses perception only as in ethical reasoning ...OR, their perception of EOL decisions made by patients ? like thier reaction or implication to patients requests near time of death?
part of what I have practiced, and currently teaching is ethical decision making in EOL field ...the perception of nurses is quite dependent on thier understanding of ethical principles and theories, and finally law system and regulatoring policies,and how to apply them...but if you are asking about perception ( I would prefer the word attitude) towards patients` decisions at EOL.
i have few good articles on hand, if you can be more exact on what you are looking for, I may be able to help you with some literature.