Articles: critical-illness.
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Many patients who are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have needs which rapidly resolve and are discharged alive within 24 h. We sought to characterize the outcomes of critically ill trauma victims at our institution with a short stay in the ICU. ⋯ We found that 17% of patients who were intubated in the prehospital setting or emergency department and subsequently hospitalized were discharged alive from the ICU within 24 h.
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Family members experience considerable physiological, psychological, and emotional pressure when accompanying a critically ill relative in the emergency department. The culture and context of care influence the needs of the family, and a thorough understanding of these needs by health care professionals is essential to providing patient- and family-centered care. This study aimed to compare nurses' and family members' perceptions of the priorities of family member needs and their satisfaction with meeting those needs in the emergency department. ⋯ The perceived importance of the patient's family's needs differed from the viewpoints of the patient's family members and the nurses. In addition, emergency nurses overestimated the extent to which family members' needs were met compared with family members. To more adequately gauge and meet the needs of family members, nurses need to acquire more knowledge about patient family needs in the emergency department.