Have you had the opportunity to consider the high dependency/critical care environment from the patient’s and family perspective?

How could you make this transition easier for the patient and their family? What communication strategies and standards would you expect?

Please review the link below for further consideration of this: http://www.healthtalk.org/peoples-experiences/intensive-care/intensive-care-patients-experiences

1. Transition may be made easier by:

• if planned admission: suggest visit to critical care environment, provide written information about critical care – what to expect, meet staff. Introduction to staff and explanation of routine, bedside equipment. Ensure frequent verbal communications and interactions provided by staff: updates, progress, ensure language used is appropriate and understood.
• if emergency admission: introduction to staff and explanation of routine, bedside equipment. Ensure frequent verbal communications and interactions provided by staff: updates, progress, ensure language used is appropriate and understood. Provide written information about critical care – expectations.

2. Communication strategies and standards:

• introduction to nurse and team caring for patient, always provide updates, explain and support every procedure, ensure understanding. Become familiar with immediate family visiting – encourage to speak about patient, encourage to spend time speaking directly to patient, writing in patient diary.