2019 Volume 39 Pages 245-253
Purpose: To identify the characteristics of nursing practice for mechanically ventilated and lightly sedated patients in critical care.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Critical Care Nurse Specialists and Certified Intensive Care Nurses. The data derived from the interviews were qualitatively analyzed by using an inductive approach.
Results: Responses were obtained from 13 subjects, which revealed the following six characteristics related to nursing practice in critical care: “integrating multiple data of individual patients and inferring their pain, and actively trying to ease the pain,” “making sure that patients are aware of the medical devices and wearable objects that are being used on them by letting them see or touch devices and objects repeatedly,” “repeatedly explaining to patients that there has been a sudden change in their condition and informing them of their prognosis,” “respecting patients’ voluntary behavior and at the same time determining if it could be a danger to the patients,” “leading patients to work on care and rehabilitation while obtaining the patients’ consent,” and “mediating between patients and their family and adjusting their distance.”
Conclusions: The present study suggests that nurses should try to empower patients under light sedation to provide better-structured and well-informed nursing care through collaboration with patients.
