Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Jul 1990
Case ReportsDischarging ICU ventilator-dependent patients to home healthcare.
Patients who are ventilator dependent have few alternatives to continued hospitalization. Within our institution and community, intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy and lack of skilled nursing facilities forced us to look for other ways to meet their healthcare needs. ⋯ Overcoming the anxiety and developing and implementing the discharge plan became our goals. The goals were achieved when the patient was effectively and safely discharged from the ICU to his home.