Professional nursing support for culturally diverse family members of critically ill adults

Abstract

Family members' perceptions of professional support expected of critical care nurses were examined for differences related to cultural affiliation using the "Professional Support Questionnaire for Critical Care Nurses Working with Family Members" (PSQ). The PSQ was administered face-to-face to family members waiting to visit a critically ill relative admitted to the intensive care unit. ANOVA and post hoc tests were computed to compare 90 family members' expectations for professional nursing support during a relative's critical illness across three cultural groups-African American, Hispanic, and White. There were significant differences in family members' responses on certain PSQ items across cultural groups. Despite these differences, family members' expectations of professional support from critical care nurses were generally universal-suggesting equitable care, dignity, and respect should be universal values. There is a need for critical care nurses to develop interventions that respect some cultural uniqueness as well as address the universal needs of family members coping with the ICU admission of a critically ill family member.

Short‐ and long‐term impact of critical illness on relatives: literature review

“…2000, Chui & Chan 2007). Relatives may use a range of coping mechanisms to adapt to the situation (Ågård & Harder 2007), and these may vary according to socio‐demographic and cultural factors (Chui & Chan 2007), health status, previous experience of ICU and the patients’ psychological status (Waters 1999, Johansson et al. 2004, Verhaeghe et al.…”

Nursing Support for Family Members of Critically Ill Adults

“…In the current study, a significant fact was that without exception participants identified what helped them Get Through the situation as support rather than caring. When Lightening Our Load was compared with general and specific conceptualizations of caring (Warren, 1994;Watson, 1988), supportive care (Davies & Oberle, 1990), social support (Langford, Bowsher, Maloney, & Lillis, 1997), and professional support (Hupcey, 1997;Waters, 1999), many shared characteristics were found, dependent on the context. What does this overlap between the results of the current study and the literature cited about these conceptualizations say about the relationships among them?…”

Migrant and minority family members in the intensive care unit. A review of the literature

“…African-American mothers reported that the highest source of satisfaction was support from the healthcare team [33]. “Despite (ethnic) differences…family members expectations of professional support from critical care nurses were generally universal-suggesting equitable care, dignity and respect should be universal values.” [43]. …”