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The lived experience of having a close relative in an intensive care unit

Files

Dissertation(901.02 KB)

Date

2006

Authors

Supervisor

Spence, Deb

Item type

Dissertation

Degree name

Master of Health Science

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

This study explored the experience of family members with a close relative in an Intensive Care Unit. Using Colaizzi’s method of phenomenology, interviews were conducted with two participants who had relatives in different Intensive Care Units. Current literature has focused on identifying the needs of family members’ visiting a relative in ICU and their level of satisfaction with care but little attention has been paid to exploring their experience. Six themes emerged from the data: seeing and being terrified; wanting and needing to be there; lack of information gives rise to mistrust; needing support in order to cope; feeling out of control; acknowledging ‘humanness’. Together the fundamental description and fundamental structure of the phenomenon provide understanding of the family members’ experience of having a relative in an ICU. Recommendations for nursing practice, education and further research are made based on these findings.

Description

Keywords

Critically ill, Family relationships, Case studies, Psychotherapy

Source

DOI

Publisher's version

Rights statement

Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/10292/11153

Collections

Masters Dissertations