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Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study
Mid Sweden University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Health Sciences (HOV).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2612-0097
Mid Sweden University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Health Sciences (HOV).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3075-0833
Mid Sweden University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Health Sciences (HOV).ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9936-8395
2023 (English)In: BMC Nursing, E-ISSN 1472-6955, Vol. 22, no 1, article id 399Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background

Care encounters at general wards have many reasons, and the complexity differs. Some arriving at the ward are relatives of discharged intensive care unit patients’, who are usually more fragile than others due to what had happened to them. Research indicates that care encounters leave relatives dissatisfied. There is a lack of studies describing how relatives of adult patients experience the transfer from the intensive care unit.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to describe relatives’ experiences of care encounters with nurses during their loved ones’ stay in the general ward after being discharged from the intensive care unit.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design with an inductive approach was used. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with relatives [n = 14) of patients from different hospitals in Sweden. Data were analysed using content analysis.

Results

Relatives expressed feeling a huge responsibility for ensuring the quality of care for their loved ones. It was essential to encounter available, committed, and compassionate nurses in the general ward after being transferred from the intensive care unit. The theme ‘longing for trust and struggling to be involved in their loved one’s care’ was illustrated in the two subthemes of ‘wanting to be seen as an important piece of the puzzle’ and ‘being vigilant and worrying about the quality of care’.

Conclusion

The relatives of patients experience their needs as unfulfilled in care encounters with nurses at the general ward after transfer from ICU. In order to meet the needs of relatives, nurses require well-developed non-technical skills to establish a compassionate interaction founded on trust and respect for the individual. Future research should investigate how relatives’ needs can be met in practice. New nursing innovations are necessary to structure encounters with patients and relatives transitioning from the intensive care unit.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature , 2023. Vol. 22, no 1, article id 399
National Category
Nursing
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-49618DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01562-9ISI: 001087516800001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85174588262OAI: oai:DiVA.org:miun-49618DiVA, id: diva2:1806528
Funder
Mid Sweden UniversityAvailable from: 2023-10-23 Created: 2023-10-23 Last updated: 2024-07-04Bibliographically approved

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Gyllander, TheresaNäppä, UllaHäggström, Marie

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