2023 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 87-100
Purpose: Qualitative research on the experiences of family surrogate decision-makers and family nursing in critical care were analyzed to examine the relationship between the experiences of families and family nursing.
Methods: Six articles on selected family experiences and six on family nursing were used as primary sources, and the relationships were modeled using meta-analysis.
Results: Five categories of family experiences in critical care and six categories of family support were extracted. In the “relationship model,” family members performed surrogate decision-making while [sensing the worst and feeling fear, but holding out hope], [discerning the meaning of the patient’s life and his/her will, and continuing to question the pros and cons of the decision].
The nurses [had conversations that elicited the family’s thoughts and ideas and allowed emotional exchanges], [accepted the wavering of decisions and allowed the patient and his/her family to share memories, space, time, and care], and [assessed the family’s abilities to form opinions and make adjustments regarding the backgrounds and future lives of family members].
Discussion: The “relational model” expressed the following:(1) the family’s attitude of continuous questioning of the [discovery of meaning and intention of the patient’s life], which has an ethical aspect;(2) interactions involving a series of conversations, with the nurse [eliciting the family’s thoughts and ideas and emotional exchanges];(3) facilitating interactions so that the family can form opinions by [considering their background and future life and making adjustments]. In general, it became clear that family support along with circular interactions is important for family nursing in critical care.
