Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study
Abstract 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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01562-9 |
| _version_ | 1797577094858801152 |
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| author | Theresa Gyllander Ulla Näppä Marie Häggström |
| author_facet | Theresa Gyllander Ulla Näppä Marie Häggström |
| author_sort | Theresa Gyllander |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:04:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-377a50c2fd8742858b5d51837f4f2a45 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:04:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj.art-377a50c2fd8742858b5d51837f4f2a452023-11-19T12:51:37ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552023-10-012211910.1186/s12912-023-01562-9Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative studyTheresa Gyllander0Ulla Näppä1Marie Häggström2Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden UniversityDepartment of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden UniversityDepartment of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01562-9Care encounterFamily careLife-changing eventsNurse–family relationsNursing careQuality of care |
| spellingShingle | Theresa Gyllander Ulla Näppä Marie Häggström Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study BMC Nursing Care encounter Family care Life-changing events Nurse–family relations Nursing care Quality of care |
| title | Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Relatives’ experiences of care encounters in the general ward after ICU discharge: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | relatives experiences of care encounters in the general ward after icu discharge a qualitative study |
| topic | Care encounter Family care Life-changing events Nurse–family relations Nursing care Quality of care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01562-9 |
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