Family member's experiences with and evaluation of an ICU Liaison Nurse Service: A qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundFamily members of critically ill patients often experience anxiety when their relatives are transferred from ICU to another level of care. ICU liaison nurse (ICULN) visits have been associated with improved support for patients, their families and nursing staff but has not been extensively studied in the non‐English speaking setting. Yet, cross‐country variations such as how hospital care is delivered and by who means that innovations such as the ICULN may not be able to be simply transferred to other contexts and may not have similar outcomes.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate family member's experiences with and evaluation of ICULN support service in one Swedish ICU.Study DesignA qualitative evaluation study was undertaken, recruiting family members of former ICU patients. Audio‐taped in‐depth interviews were conducted. Data were analysed by content analysis.FindingsFifteen family members were interviewed. Two categories: Minds the gap between intensive care and the next care level and providing stability in an uncertain situation were identified. The ICULN supported the family members both directly, when the ICULNs listened to their questions and met their needs, and indirectly, when the ICULNs took responsibility for the patients and their physical and psychological conditions and wellbeing.ConclusionFamilies valued and were satisfied with the ICULN service but also gave suggestions to improve the service in this particular hospital context.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThe study showed that an ICULN support service met several needs of family members and therefore was a beneficial way to support patients and family members in the transition from the ICU to the ward.

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“…In other studies, patients considered the presence of family members effective in meeting their needs and feeling secure [7,8]. Scheduled visiting has been shown to provide psychological support for patients, but Iranian hospitals have strict rules that put patients and their families under a lot of pressure [9].…”

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“…Among these, nine utilized a qualitative approach. From Sweden, a study 2 investigated family members' experiences with and evaluation of intensive care units (ICUs) liaison nurse support service, another study 3 described patients' experiences of preparing for transfer from an ICU to a ward, and another 4 investigated registered nurses' perceptions of sudden cardiac arrest survivors' sleep. From Denmark, one study 5 explored the critical care nursing staff's perception of patient involvement in their care in ICUs, and another study 6 explored ICU nurses' experiences of communicating while wearing personal protective equipment during COVID‐19 isolation precautions.…”