Nursing in critical care
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Many patients experience posttraumatic stress disorder following a stay in intensive care; this can be due to a lack of recall of their stay. Retrospective patient diaries (n = 8) with follow-up have been used to try and help patients' recovery but have been found to be impersonal. ⋯ Benefits included better understanding of the events of the critical illness, helping with more realistic goal setting during the recovery period, improving communication within families through discussion of the diary and providing a source of comfort for the bereaved. More formal audit of these diaries is required and is currently being undertaken.
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This exploratory study investigates relatives' overall experiences of the critical care environment and how staff perceived these experiences. Traditionally, research in Critical Care concentrated on patients' psychological well-being or relatives' immediate needs. There is little research that addresses the relative's overall experience of events. ⋯ The study used qualitative methods and drew on techniques of grounded theory. While staff perceived relatives' experiences accurately; issues arose, from both staff and relatives perspective, with regard to accurate dissemination of information. Further research into the communication processes used within Critical Care Units is required in addition to developing best practice in this area.
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Nursing in critical care · Jan 2005
The identification of family members' contribution to patients' care in the intensive care unit: a naturalistic inquiry.
The admission of a patient to an intensive care unit (ICU) is recognized as being a stressful experience for their families. Many studies have focused on the needs of families within ICU, but few have highlighted the unique contribution that family members make towards patient care and recovery. ⋯ The findings can be grouped into three themes: getting to know the patient through the family, family contribution to care and the nurses' role in supporting families of ICU patients. Families can have a very positive influence on the patient's care and recovery from ICU, but both the family members, and in turn the nursing staff, need to be supported appropriately if this valuable contribution to patient care is to be maximized and maintained.