ICU a patient's perception

Abstract

Under the heading of a biographical account: fear, loneliness and abandonment are quoted by patients on leaving ICU wards after a post-operative process. Illness seriousness together with a personal feeling of "anaesthetics awakening" are underlined. Fear and loneliness are difficult to measure but the own perception of being in "good hands", would have some meaning, at least to contribute to diminish anxiety. But not always is so. Frequently, the patient's perception is well known to the professional but seldom the investigation goes any further: is its linked to the way of caring on the professional's side?, on the professional's attitude?. Some responses were gathered and evaluated considering the "caring quality". The results are that emotions interfere with the process of thinking, affecting rationality for caring. Quantitative treatment has been considered as an approach to the problem and not as an objective confirmation to a complex reality, as the ICU world is.

Keywords

• Solitud
• Miedo
• Compasión
• Valores
• Enfermería