This issue includes 2 new columns, Practice Pointers for the Nurse Leader and Conversations in Ethics. The practice pointers will address various practical suggestions for dealing with the legal, regulatory, and ethical issues faced by nurse leaders. Conversations in Ethics is based on a regular forum conducted at the facility of JONA Law board member, Ed Beard, and will provide factual scenarios involving ethical issues along with discussion questions. The Conversations column is meant to provide a means to provoke thought and discussion about ethical issues in your own facility, and the authors invite you to contact them with scenarios to be addressed in this column. This issue's NCSBN column provides important information regarding ongoing competency assessment of registered nurses.
Our CEU feature for this issue deals with the issue of informed consent for minors, a subject which can be confusing for those not in the legal profession. Our remaining article addresses a scenario of family refusal to accept a brain death diagnosis from the perspective of the ethicist, the religious leader, and the healthcare attorney.
As always, your feedback is appreciated.