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Journal of Nursing and Health Studies
ISSN: 2574-2825
April 23-25, 2018
Rome, Italy
Nursing Education 2018
Page 34
27th Edition of World Congress on
Nursing Education &
Research
Introduction: Critically ill patients and their family members
experience the critical care unit as an extremely stressful
environment. Patientsadmitted tocritical careunitsaremembers
of a wider patient-family network that functions as a small social
network. Nursing care should move away from the traditional
models of care, where care focuses on the physiological care of
patients, to family-centered care, thus recognizing the needs of
the families as inseparable from those of the patient.
Aim: To observe current family centered practices in the critical
care unit.
Research Design & Methods: A qualitative research design was
utilized to observe current practices relating family-centered
care in the critical care unit. The researcher and critical care
nurses observed current family centered practices during visiting
hours on day and night duty. The nurses collaboratively analyzed
the data using hermeneutic data analysis. Based on the findings
strategies were identified to enhance family-centered care in the
critical care unit.
Findings:Thestudy found that theparticipantswantedhealthcare
providers to be consistent in their information sharing, not
only sharing patient information when the condition changed,
on admission and discharge. According to the participants,
complete information sharing would promote understanding
of the progress; leave them with fewer questions to ask, and
make them feel part of the care team. Weekly family meetings
should be held with doctors to have face-to-face conversations
regarding concerns about their family members’ condition and
progress. Information brochures/leaflets should be readily
available for families about the ICU environment, equipment
and general rules and regulations that will be important for
them as family members. Supporting and involving families in
the care of the critically ill family member may improve family
satisfaction, reduce complaints and ultimately lead to positive
health outcomes for the patient. Healthcare professionals
should collaboratively and continuously engage families in care
decision making. Consequently such partnership will promote a
family-centered care environment in the ICU.
Biography
Prof Isabel Coetzee is a senior lecturer at University of Pretoria for past 19
years involved in the education and training of pre-graduate and post-grad-
uate students. Her area of clinical expertise is Critical Care Nursing Sci-
ence.. She has supervised post-graduate scholars to completion a total of
30 Masters and 1 PhD students.. Currently she is supervising 15 Masters
and 7 PhD students. She is an external examiner at several national and in-
ternational universities, has examined 30 Masters dissertations and 9 PhD
thesis. Prof I Coetzee has presented at various National and International
Conferences relating Critical Care, Higher education and Practice develop-
ment aspects. She has 18 published article in National and International
Journals and is a co-researcher in a International Practice development re-
search project with NRF Funding. She is a Fellow of the Academia of Nurs-
ing in South African (FANSA), as well as the South African representative of
the World Federation for Critical care nurses (WFCCN). She is a recipient
of the Critical Care Society of South Africa`s Presidents` Nursing Award for
outstanding contribution to Critical Care in South Africa.
Family centered care in the critical care:
voices of family members
Isabel Coetzee
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Isabel Coetzee, J Nurs Health Stud 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2574-2825-C1-001