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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
Subject index
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Intensive care
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Aged 70 +
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Interview 26
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Her sister-in-law got better and worse so many times she felt embarrassed giving updates to others, though people were very understanding.
In 2006 her sister-in-law sadly died in ICU after having an accident in her car. She visited her daily and took care of all the practical matters.
Intensive care
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Aged 41-50
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Interview 16
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She felt her son still needed one to one nursing care because he couldn't move his fingers or head when he was well but, after being in ICU, was even
She cares for her 13-year-old son, who has congenital muscular dystrophy. In 2003 he had a serious chest infection and was admitted to a peadiatric ICU.
Intensive care
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Aged 51-60
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Interview 11
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Throughout her husband's stay in hospital and afterwards, she received conflicting information about whether he'd had MRSA, though she understands why
Her husband was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was happy with the nursing care he received in ICU but concerned about information and one of his treatments.
Intensive care
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Aged 51-60
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Interview 07
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They felt the nurses were brilliant apart from a few, including one who told them their son was responding when he wasn't and another who didn't take
Their son was admitted to ICU in 2005 with bacterial meningitis. It was a traumatic time but he is now back home and has made excellent progress.
Intensive care
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Aged 51-60
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Interview 04
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Her son had to have his own room because he had MRSA but she felt he was in danger of injuring himself whenever he tried to walk and that he needed su
In October 2004, her son had a motorbike accident and was admitted to ICU. He had a serious head injury and broken jaw.
Intensive care
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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends
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Aged 61-70
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Interview 14
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Support and encourage the ill person, including when they feel low or frustrated and it feels difficult for you.
She has cared for her husband full-time since he had a heart attack and life threatening infection that meant he had to have his leg amputated.
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