[IN]FORMING THE FAMILY OF A PERSON IN CRITICAL SITUATION: NURSING PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES

[IN]FORMANDO A LA FAMILIA DE UNA PERSONA EN SITUACIÓN CRÍTICA: PERCEPCIONES Y PRÁCTICAS DE ENFERMERÍA

Objectives:  to identify aspects inherent to communication considered by nurses when conveying information to the family member of a person in critical condition; identify what information nurses seek from the family member and what nursing focuses emerge; Identify family needs and factors that influence content and information needs.

Method:  this is a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, and cross-sectional study that involved administering a structured questionnaire. Twenty-three nurses from a multipurpose Intensive Care Unit of a central Portuguese hospital participated. The theoretical frameworks supporting the work and analysis are Orem’s self-care theory, Meleis’s transition theory, Swanson’s structure of caring, McCormack and McCance’s person-centered care model, and the International Classification for Nursing Practice.

Results:  in terms of communication, posture, appropriate language, and availability emerge. Among the information nurses seek, they need to understand what the family member knows about the critically ill person’s health status and the strategies implemented. The most common nursing focuses are anxiety and communication. Understanding the health status of the person in critical condition by the family, through clear and timely information, is essential and influences their needs.

Conclusion:  regarding communication, nurses emphasize posture and availability. It’s important to understand what family members know about the critically ill person’s health status and what strategies they’ve implemented. Responding to the need for information translates into peace of mind for the family, from both the family and the nurses’ perspectives.

DESCRIPTORS:
Family; Critical illness; Intensive care units; Health communication; Nurses