title: Caring for the family of the critically ill surgical patient.
abstract: Surgery and the critical illness of a loved one can be a situational life crisis for family members. Establishing a meaningful nurse-family relationship is critical to the success of all other interventions. Close contact with families, and an awareness of the impact of the family on patient outcomes make nurses the ideal professionals to provide care to families during this crisis.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stanik
mesh_terms: D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009732:Nursing Care; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000523:psychology*