Factors Influencing Nurses' Participation in Voluntary‐Assisted Dying: A National Cross‐Sectional Study

AIM: To identify nurse practitioners' and registered nurses' willingness to participate in voluntary assisted dying, and the factors that influence these decisions. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. METHODS: An online survey was disseminated to members of 16 professional nursing organisations and associations between April and August 2024. RESULTS: Responses from 396 participants were analysed. Most were registered nurses (n = 335, 84.6%), aged between 45 and 64 years (n = 217, 54.8%). Over half of the participants (n = 219, 55.3%) had some knowledge of voluntary assisted dying, and more than two-thirds (n = 274, 69.2%) strongly supported it. Respect for a person's rights (n = 345, 89.8%) and relieving suffering (n = 342, 89.1%) were the main reasons nurses participated. Most nurse practitioner participants would be prepared to assess a person's eligibility for voluntary assisted dying (n = 32, 82.1%) or prescribe a substance (n = 31, 79.5%), if permitted by law. Religion, age and years of experience were characteristics associated with reasons for participation. CONCLUSION: In Australia, some RNs and NPs are willing to participate in a range of VAD-related activities. However, in some jurisdictions, nurses' engagement is limited by legislative and policy settings. Reconsideration of nurses' roles may enhance access. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: With appropriate support, nurses can make a valuable contribution to the sustainability of the voluntary assisted dying workforce.