• James P Cullinane and Catherine I Plowright.
• J P Cullinane, Intensive Care Unit, Anaesthetics Department, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Gillingham, Kent, UK.
• Nurs Crit Care. 2013 Nov 1; 18 (6): 289-96.

AimsThis literature review looks at the evidence around transferring patients from intensive care units (ICU) to wards. The literature informs us that patients and their families experience problems when being transferred from an ICU environment and that this increases overall anxiety.BackgroundThe effects of surviving critical illness often have a profound psychological impact on patients and families This study examines the experiences of adult patients, and their families, following their transfer from the ICU to the ward.FindingsFive themes emerged from this literature review: physical responses, psychological responses, information and communication, safety and security, and the needs of relatives.ConclusionsThis review reminds us that these problems can be reduced if information and communication around time of transfers were improved.Relevance To Clinical PracticeAs critical care nurses it is essential that we prepare patients and families for transfer to wards.© 2013 British Association of Critical Care Nurses.

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