American Association of Critical-Care Nurses demonstration project: patients' recollections of critical care. 1989

T F Simpson, and S Armstrong, and P Mitchell
University of Rochester School of Nursing, NY 14642.

Although more patients are surviving illness that requires critical care, little is known about the impact of the critical care experience on patients as they recall it. In this study we describe 59 patients' recollections of the critical care experience within 24 to 48 hours after transfer from the unit. Responding to an open-ended series of questions, patients accurately identified why they were admitted to critical care units. Actions related to observations, technical care, alleviation of concerns, and self-care promotion were recalled by patients. Nurses were the persons most frequently associated with such actions. In contrast, physicians were most frequently cited as the source of information about their health condition. Almost half of the patients who were willing and able to be interviewed described the impact of the experience as positive or neutral. Pain and sleeplessness were the major problems identified by patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007902 Length of Stay The period of confinement of a patient to a hospital or other health facility. Hospital Stay,Hospital Stays,Stay Length,Stay Lengths,Stay, Hospital,Stays, Hospital
D009732 Nursing Care Care given to patients by nursing service personnel. Care, Nursing,Management, Nursing Care,Nursing Care Management
D011939 Mental Recall The process whereby a representation of past experience is elicited. Recall, Mental
D003422 Critical Care Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis. Intensive Care,Intensive Care, Surgical,Surgical Intensive Care,Care, Critical,Care, Intensive,Care, Surgical Intensive
D006764 Hospitals, Community Institutions with permanent facilities and organized medical staff which provide the full range of hospital services primarily to a neighborhood area. Community Hospital,Community Hospitals,Hospital, Community
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012720 Severity of Illness Index Levels within a diagnostic group which are established by various measurement criteria applied to the seriousness of a patient's disorder. Illness Index Severities,Illness Index Severity
D014861 Washington State bounded by on the north by Canada, on the east by Idaho, on the south by Oregon, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

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