Egelund Hansen A, Lehmkuhl L, Højager Nielsen A. Critical care nurses' perception of patient involvement in care: A qualitative focus group.
Nurs Crit Care 2023;
28:878-884. [PMID:
35811495 DOI:
10.1111/nicc.12815]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Patient involvement in care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is complex. Knowledge about the nature and extent of patient involvement in the Intensive care unit is scarce.
AIM
The aim of the study was to explore the critical care nursing staff's perception of patient involvement in their care in the ICU.
STUDY DESIGN
A phenomenological, hermeneutic research study was carried out using qualitative data. Data were collected in two focus group interviews analysed using Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. The study was conducted in a level 2 medical-surgical 8-bed ICU in a regional hospital in Southern Denmark.
RESULTS
Critical care nurses found it important to maintain involvement in intensive care. Depending on the patient's ability to partake in care, approaches for patient involvement ranged from (1) continually adjusting care activities according to the patient's bodily responses, (2) formation of a relationship with the patient to enable personalized care and (3) making room for self-determined care progressing with the patient's recovery.
CONCLUSION
Critical care nurses' perception of patient involvement depended on the patient's level of consciousness. When unconscious, patient involvement was possible but took a physical approach. However, the power inequality in the nurse-patient relationship must be expressed if patient involvement in the ICU is to take place.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Results suggest that nurses' perception of patient involvement in the ICU depends on the patient's level of consciousness. Patient involvement may be possible even when the patient is unconscious but it takes a more physical approach. It is essential that the power inequality in the nurse-patient relationship must be expressed if patient involvement in the ICU is to take place.
Collapse