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Intensive care
Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Reasons for admission :
Emergency admissions
Planned admissions
In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) :
Seeing the patient in ICU for the first time
Suspending normal routines: visiting ICU every day
Uncertainty
Emotional impact on relatives & friends in ICU
Impact on children
Telling others
Relationships within and between families
Receiving information and news from doctors
Sources of information in ICU
Nursing care
Keeping a diary
Sources of support in ICU
At the bedside:
Waiting for news
Signs of improvement and progress
The relatives' room and overnight accommodation:
The relatives' room
Overnight accommodation
When someone dies :
End of life decisions
Death and bereavement:
When someone dies
Funerals
Coping with bereavement
On a general ward :
The ward environment and nursing care
Hospital discharge and rehabilitation
Life after leaving the hospital :
Supporting and caring for the ill person at home
Impact on work and finances
Attitudes to life after the hospital experience
Messages to others
Emotional impact on relatives and carers
Emotional impact on family and friends
Adjusting to a changed life
Support and information
Support and information
Lack of support and information
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
People's stories
Aged 31-40
Interview 01
:
In March 2005 her sister was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome. This is a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves, those outside the brain and ...
Interview 02
:
In 2003 her husband had an accident while cycling on his mountain bike in woods close to their home. The accident left him with a ...
Interview 13
:
In 2006 her husband had liver disease and pneumonia and sadly died in ICU. She has gained strength from having counselling and from her spirituality.
Interview 15
:
Her husband was admitted to ICU because of an emergency heart problem, which was never diagnosed. She praised the care and professionalism of the ICU ...
Interview 18
:
Her best friend spent two weeks in ICU. She was the closest person to her, visited her daily and is now her main carer.
Interview 23
:
In 2006 his partner spent four weeks in ICU because of pneumonia. He visited her every day, sharing the visiting with his partner's parents.
Interview 29
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His partner's mother was admitted to ICU after an accident in the home. He lived with them at the time and tried to provide ...
Interview 35
:
Her mother was admitted to ICU because of gallstones and other complications. She visited her every day, often with her two young daughters, and kept ...
Interview 38
:
In 2005 her husband had a car accident and was admitted to ICU for two weeks. She feels it is important for couples to discuss ...
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