Experiences and Needs of Families With a Relative Admitted to an Adult Intensive Care Unit Available to Purchase

The objective of this review was to synthesize research studies on the experiences and needs of families with a relative in an adult intensive care unit (ICU).

Having a family member admitted to the ICU can be a stressful and traumatic experience.¹  The associated stressors can create coping challenges for the family, and there is even evidence that poor family coping may affect the patient’s recovery.^2,3  Nurses play a unique supportive role for such families through their ongoing presence and communication. This communication is highly valued by patients and family members, who struggle to assimilate all the relevant data for their own understanding and their ability to make necessary care decisions.⁴  Family-centered care in the ICU is not a new concept, with published clinical practice guidelines dating back to 2007.⁵  Nevertheless, our understanding of how families experience having a relative in the ICU and...