Articles: intensive-care-units.
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During the first COVID-19 pandemic wave, non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) nurses were deployed to temporary ICUs to provide critical care for the patient surge. A rapid critical care training program was designed to prepare them to care for patients in either temporary or permanent ICUs. ⋯ The rapid training program provided basic critical care knowledge for nurses in temporary ICUs, but experiences differed significantly between those deployed to temporary versus permanent ICUs. Although participants believed they provided safe care, nurses with no critical care experience cannot be expected to learn comprehensive critical care from expedited instruction; more formal clinical support is needed for nurses in temporary ICUs. Rapid critical care training can meet emergency needs for nurses capable of providing critical care.
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Many intensive care patients are affected by serious persistent or new physical, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences after discharge (post-ICU syndrome). This has an impact on the rest of life as well as the prognosis. To reduce or avoid these complications and structured treatment after discharge must be essential goals of intensive care medicine. ⋯ Ultimately, the treatment of intensive care patients must not end when they are discharged from the intensive care unit or hospital. Patients at risk for the very different facets of a PICS must be identified and linked to appropriate care institutions. This requires the establishment of post-ICU facilities, such as consultation hours in clinics or outpatient clinics.
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Relatives of intensive care patients make an important contribution to recovery and perform a variety of tasks. Due to the demands on the relatives and their services in the ICU and after their discharge, stressful psychological, physical, social, and financial consequences can arise or worsen. Relatives often compensate deficiencies in treatment, especially through a lack of communication and a lack of continuity of care. ⋯ Structured communication between relatives and the treatment team as well as active involvement in nursing treatments can alleviate stress symptoms and the feeling of powerlessness. Prescient discharge management for ICU patients and their relatives reduces PICS risk. Specific and comprehensive offerings of advice and support for relatives can help to perform and process the effort between everyday life and care tasks.