Open AccessAMEN in Challenging Conversations: Bridging the Gaps Between Faith, Hope, and Medicine
Author(s) -
R. Cooper,
Anna Ferguson,
Joann Bodurtha,
Thomas J. Smith
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of oncology practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.555
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1935-469X
pISSN - 1554-7477
DOI - 10.1200/jop.2014.001375
Subject(s) - miracle , bridging (networking) , negotiation , faith , medicine , amen , face (sociological concept) , health care , medline , nursing , medical education , epistemology , theology , sociology , law , social science , computer network , zoology , computer science , political science , philosophy , broiler , biology
All health care practitioners face patients and families in desperate situations who say, "We are hoping for a miracle." Few providers have any formal training in responding to this common, difficult, and challenging situation. We want to do our best to preserve hope, dignity, and faith while presenting the medical issues in a nonconfrontational and helpful way. We present the acronym AMEN (affirm, meet, educate, no matter what) as one useful tool to negotiate these ongoing conversations.