Family Members’ and Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Response to the ECG Memento© During the Bereavement Period

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 317-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Beiermann ◽  
Peggy Kalowes ◽  
Melissa Dyo ◽  
Amanda Mondor
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Enhancing Communication With Family Members in the Intensive Care Unit: A Mixed-Methods Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 23-32
Author(s):  
Karen-leigh Edward ◽  
Alessandra Galletti ◽  
Minh Huynh
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Confidence Levels ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Background Nurses in the intensive care unit are central to clinical care delivery and are often the staff members most accessible to family members for communication. Family members’ ratings of satisfaction with the intensive care unit admission are affected more by communication quality than by the level of care for the patient. Family members may feel that communication in the intensive care unit is inconsistent. Objectives To use a shared decision-making model to deliver a communication education program for intensive care unit nurses, evaluate the confidence levels of nurses who undertook the education, and examine changes in family members’ satisfaction with communication from intensive care unit nurses after the nurses received the education. Methods A mixed-methods design was used. Seventeen nurses and 81 family members participated. Results Staff members were overall very confident with communicating with family members of critically ill patients. This finding was likely linked to staff members’ experience in the position, with 88% of nurses having more than 11 years’ experience. Family members were happy with care but dissatisfied with the environment. Conclusions Environmental factors can negatively affect communication with family members in the intensive care unit.

Palliation of Thirst in Intensive Care Unit Patients: Translating Research Into Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Ann Leemhuis ◽  
Yuriko Shichishima ◽  
Kathleen Puntillo
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Numeric Rating Scale ◽  
Video Training ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses ◽  
Numeric Rating

Background Thirst is prevalent among patients in intensive care units. A research-based “thirst bundle” was shown to significantly decrease thirst in these patients. Objective To implement a research-based thirst intervention performed by intensive care unit nurses and patients’ family members. Methods Nurses and family members were taught the thirst intervention through video training and project team reinforcement. The intervention was performed by nurses for 123 patients and by family members for 13 patients. Thirst was measured with a numeric rating scale of 0 to 10, a word scale of 0 to 3, or “yes/no” answers, whichever was easiest for the patient. Inferential statistics were used to assess changes in thirst scores over time. Also assessed were nurse and family member burden levels, family level of satisfaction, and patient enjoyment. Results Thirst scores on the numeric rating scale decreased significantly: from a mean (SD) of 7.9 (2.0) before to 3.9 (2.7) after the intervention for nurses (P < .001); and from 9.2 (1.5) to 5.3 (2.6) for family members (n = 13; P = .002). Word scale scores also decreased significantly, from a median (interquartile range) of 3 (3-3) before to 2 (1-2) after the intervention for nurses (P < .001). Most patients (96%) reported enjoying the procedure. Median burden levels were less than 2 on a numeric rating scale of 0 to 10. Conclusions The palliative “thirst bundle” significantly alleviated patients’ thirst and resulted in little caregiver burden. Further efforts are warranted to incorporate this intervention into intensive care unit practice.

scholarly journals Family perceptions of intensive care unit nurses’ roles: a Greek perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Malliarou ◽  
Georgia Gerogianni ◽  
Fotoula Babatsikou ◽  
Evaggelia Kotrotsiou ◽  
Sofia Zyga
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Role Expectation ◽  
Greek Hospital ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Family Perceptions ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses

This study was done in order to examine the role of the nurse in families with critically ill patients as perceived by family members. A descriptive design was conducted with 93 family members aged 18-53 years from a 6-bed intensive care unit in a Greek Hospital. An anonymous self-completed questionnaire recording demographic data and the questionnaire <em>Family members perception of nurses behavioral role expectation/enactment scale</em> of Hickey and Lewandowski was used. Parametric statistic tests were used to examine the research questions. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients’ family members expect nurses to make them feel they can ask whatever they want whenever they want, placing great emphasis on communicating with one another and on participating in decision making to the progress of patient care. The age seems to correlate with the expectation from nurse to meet the role of training on how to handle the patient. Nurses did well with regard to meeting family members’ expectations. Most family members assessed positively the role of ICU nurse confirming the need for communication, and clear support of families.

scholarly journals Families' perception, knowledge, and psychological stressors associated with transition of care from the intensive care unit

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-56
Author(s):  
Gustavo Ferrer ◽  
Chi Chan Lee ◽  
Monica Egozcue ◽  
Hector Vazquez ◽  
Melissa Elizee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Expected Improvement ◽  
Transition Of Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Icu Discharge ◽  
Family Perceptions

Background: During the process of transition of care from the intensive care setting, clarity, and understanding are vital to a patient's outcome. A successful transition of care requires collaboration between health-care providers and the patient's family. The objective of this project was to assess the quality of continuity of care with regard to family perceptions, education provided, and psychological stress during the process. Methods: A prospective study conducted in a long-term acute care (LTAC) facility. On admission, family members of individuals admitted to the LTAC were asked to fill out a 15-item questionnaire with regard to their experiences from preceding intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization. The setting was an LTAC facility. Patients were admitted to an LTAC after ICU admission. Results: Seventy-six participants completed the questionnaire: 38% expected a complete recovery, 61% expected improvement with disabilities, and 1.3% expected no recovery. With regard to the length of stay in the LTAC, 11% expected < 1 week, 26% expected 1 to 2 weeks, 21% expected 3 to 4 weeks, and 42% were not sure. Before ICU discharge, 33% of the participants expected the transfer to the LTAC. Also, 72% did not report a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding their family's clinical condition or medical services required; 21% did not receive help from family members; and 50% reported anxiety, 20% reported depression, and 29% reported insomnia. Conclusion: Families' perception of patients' prognosis and disposition can be different from what was communicated by the physician. Families' anxiety and emotional stress may precipitate this discrepancy. The establishment of optimal projects to eliminate communication barriers and educate family members will undoubtedly improve the quality of transition of care from the ICU.

Experiences of intensive care unit nurses with COVID-19 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudete Aparecida Conz ◽  
Vanessa Augusta Souza Braga ◽  
Rosianne Vasconcelos ◽  
Flávia Helena Ribeiro da Silva Machado ◽  
Maria Cristina Pinto de Jesus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Professional Recognition ◽  
Public And Private Hospitals ◽  
Training And Support ◽  
Continuous Use ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the experiences of intensive care unit nurses who provide care to patients with COVID-19. Methods: Qualitative study grounded in Alfred Schütz’s social phenomenology in which 20 nurses who work in intensive care units at public and private hospitals were interviewed between July and September 2020. Data were analyzed according to the adopted theoretical-methodological framework and the literature related to the subject. Results: The interviewed nurses mentioned demands about working conditions, professional recognition and training, and support to physical and mental health, which proved necessary considering the care intensity experienced by these professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Learning the nurses’ experiences evidenced the need to adjust to a new way of providing care that included the physical space, new institutional protocols, continuous use of protective equipment, and patients’ demand for special care. This originated the necessity to be around situations that interfered with their health and motivated them to carry out professional projects after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantifying Occupational Stress in Intensive Care Unit Nurses: An Applied Naturalistic Study of Correlations Among Stress, Heart Rate, Electrodermal Activity, and Skin Temperature

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872082110408
Author(s):  
Nima Ahmadi ◽  
Farzan Sasangohar ◽  
Tariq Nisar ◽  
Valerie Danesh ◽  
Ethan Larsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
High Level ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses ◽  
Skin Temperatures

Objective To identify physiological correlates to stress in intensive care unit nurses. Background Most research on stress correlates are done in laboratory environments; naturalistic investigation of stress remains a general gap. Method Electrodermal activity, heart rate, and skin temperatures were recorded continuously for 12-hr nursing shifts (23 participants) using a wrist-worn wearable technology (Empatica E4). Results Positive correlations included stress and heart rate (ρ = .35, p < .001), stress and skin temperature (ρ = .49, p < .05), and heart rate and skin temperatures (ρ = .54, p = .0008). Discussion The presence and direction of some correlations found in this study differ from those anticipated from prior literature, illustrating the importance of complementing laboratory research with naturalistic studies. Further work is warranted to recognize nursing activities associated with a high level of stress and the underlying reasons associated with changes in physiological responses. Application Heart rate and skin temperature may be used for real-time detection of stress, but more work is needed to validate such surrogate measures.

Magnitude of Low Back Pain and Associated Factors Among Nurses Working at Intensive Care Unit in Amhara Region Public Hospitals, Ethiopia  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bitew Tefera ◽  
Haymanot Zeleke ◽  
Abebe Abate ◽  
Haimanot Abebe ◽  
Zebene Mekonnen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Amhara Region ◽  
Patient Handling ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Abstract Background Low back pain is a common public health problem throughout the world with the global prevalence from 28–86%. Nurses working in intensive care units are handling people who are critically ill and helpless, which requires more assistance for transferring and handling activities. This possesses a risk for low back pain but little is known about it in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of low back pain and associated factors among nurses who work at an intensive care units in Amhara region public hospitals, North Ethiopia. Methods A multi-centered institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Amhara region public hospitals from March 1–30/2020. Simple random sampling technique after proportional allocation was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using a standard modified Nordic musculoskeletal assessment tool. After data were checked for completeness and consistency, it was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science software version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with low back pain. Finally, those variables with a p-value of < 0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered statistically significant. Result -The study was conducted among 412 intensive care unit nurses giving a response rate of 97.6%. The magnitude of low back pain was 313 (76 %) [95% CI: (71.6%-79.9%)]. Being female [AOR = 2.674 (1.404, 5.076)], unavailability of assistive device for patient handling [AOR = 2.139 (1.035, 4.410)], lack of training on intensive care [AOR = 2.017 (1.092 ,3.943)], lack of regular exercise [AOR = 2.164 (1.164 ,4.108)] and job stress [AOR = 3.66 (1.955, 6.498)] were factors significantly associated with low back pain. Conclusions In this study the magnitude of low back pain was high. Being female, unavailability of assistive device for patient handling, lack of training on intensive care, lack of regular exercise and job stress were factors associated with low back pain. Policy makers and concerned bodies should give emphasis on accessability of assistive devices for patient care, provision of training on intensive care and adaptive working environment for intensive care unit nurses.

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