ICU can be intimidating for visitors especially if this is your first experience. The situation of having a loved one sick enough to be in an ICU is very stressful. The stress is compounded by the unknown elements of the high tech environment of alarms, machines and monitoring equipment.
As an ICU nurse for the past 30 plus years I would like to share some tips that may lessen your stress the next time you visit an ICU.
*The ICU nurse is your best friend
Since the nurse is with the patient more than any other care provider, including the doctor, the nurse is the one who knows what is going on. Communicate with the nurse and don’t be afraid to ask questions or share information that you believe may be relevant to the care of your loved one.
As nurses we value a good relationship with you as the patient’s family member and want to maintain good communication because ultimately it helps the patient.
*Follow the rules
Visiting has become much more liberal in recent years with open visiting as the trend in most ICU’s across the country. Sometimes this means you can even spend the night in the room with the patient. Frequently there are limitations such as restricting this to one family member, two at a time during normal visiting hours and no small children.
Each hospital has its own protocols and procedures for visiting and usually the nurse will inform you of these during your first visit and maybe even give you a pamphlet outlining the policies.
*Ask the nurse for help
If your loved one needs to turn or wants to be moved or needs to use the bedpan or get up to the commode, ask the nurse. In most circumstances the patient is connected to numerous IV’s and monitoring equipment. They may likely have multiple tubes and may also be attached to lifesaving machines and devices such as pacemakers and ventilators. These are critical and if they are accidentally disconnected or pulled out, an emergency situation could be created.
*Leave your phone number with the nurse
In order for you to be reached in case of an emergency or other reason pertinent to the care of your loved one, leave your cell or home phone number with the nurse. Many times consent for a procedure is needed or the condition of the patient changes and it makes it easier to notify you.
*Be aware that this is critical care
Although at times it may seem like the nurse is not doing something, an ICU nurse is working all the time. Aside from the physical care you see, as ICU nurses we are continually assessing, concentrating, calculating, measuring, titrating and documenting on the various aspects necessary to provide safe quality care to your loved one. So if you are in the patient’s room for the majority of the shift, know that the nurse will not be able to carry on a conversation all day.
In addition the nurse usually has another patient and may be helping other nurses as well, so the nurse will not be in the room with your loved one at all times. All ICU patients are monitored by EKG leads and other biomedical devices with information that can be seen at a central station. Likewise vital signs are set with alarm ranges customized for each patient, so that an audible alert is sounded if the vital sounds exceed these ranges.
*Patients in ICU need rest
A patient in ICU needs rest and they get very little due to the fact that they are almost continually being assessed, turned, and checked while in ICU. Simply trying to stay awake while you are visiting can be a real challenge for your loved one. Sometimes it becomes necessary for nurses like myself to gently inform you that it would be best for the patient not to have additional stimulation and to be allowed to rest. This is particularly important when your loved one has just been medicated for pain or anxiety or if the patient has a head injury.
In a nice way sometimes we are trying to tell you that it might be best for you and your loved one to go home for awhile. Most ICU’s have policies where you can phone directly at any time and we assure you that we would call you if there are any changes.
ICU can be a stressful and frightening place for visitors and ICU nurses understand that reality. The tips here can hopefully make it a little easier whenever you visit an ICU.