Abstract

CAMPO MARTINEZ, M.C.  and  COTRINA GAMBOA, M.J.. Help for the patient's family in critical situations. Enferm. glob. [online]. 2011, vol.10, n.24. ISSN 1695-6141.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1695-61412011000400009.

Intensive Care Units have an organizational structure that is designed to facilitate the work of medical and nursing staff and break the link between the individual and his or her environment. Care of the critical patient is incomplete if it does not include dealing with the problems of the family members. The present study uses a descriptive-qualitative method to look at how ICU nurses help families to cope adequately with the loss of a loved one and how nurses feel about this situation. Nurses feel themselves to be responsible for the care that families in mourning need. They take on an important role in the comfort given to relatives because they are constantly at the patients' bedside, but they do not consider they are qualified when it comes to giving emotional support as they do not possess the appropriate mechanisms or skills to provide such care.

Keywords : ICU; Family; Nursing; Emotional support; Effective coping.

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