Communication at intensive care unit, importance and limitations on nursing and relatives view - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v8i4.9667

Abstract

A study to identify the communication established by the nursing staff in order to develop interpersonal relationship with patients in the Intensive Care Unit and their families, and to detect how this group perceives the issue. It is a qualitative research, carried out with four members of the nursing staff and two relatives of patients in an intensive care unit, totaling six participants. A semi-interview and observation was used. The information was analyzed and grouped into themes. Two themes emerged: the importance of communication and its limits in the nursing and the family views. It was shown the value of communication in interpersonal relationships as a way of humanizing the care and the existence of a lack of autonomy of the nursing team facing the provision of information. It was revealed the importance of communicative action among families, patients and the nursing staff once it helps to provide a more humanized care considering the frailty of the ones involved in the illness. It was concluded that communication is the basis to support nursing actions in order to improve the care for the patient and family.