The patient need from the AACN synergy model that will be discussed throughout this paper is “participation in decision making” (Curley, 1989, p. 69). This is the extent to which the patient engages in decision making. When the patient is not able to advocate for themselves in various circumstances related to critical illness, this term describes the family’s role in decision making and other aspects of care. The patient’s needs require a nurse that has characteristics that match and synergize with them in order to attain optimal outcomes. In this way, one important nurse characteristic is that of “advocacy and moral agency” (Curley, 1989, p. 70). This nursing characteristic requires the nurse to be aware of ethical conflicts and concerns and
