ICU nurses' preparation of families for death of patients following withdrawal of ventilator support.
Intensive care unit nurses were asked how they prepared families for the death of their patient following withdrawal of mechanical ventilation. Forty-three descriptors were identified, of which 67.5% (n = 29) were "physical sensations and symptoms." Less frequently mentioned features of Self-Regulation Theory were temporal characteristics, environmental features, and causes of these signs. Eight descriptors mentioned by more than 50% of nurses were skin color changes (74%), skin temperature changes (74%), varying levels of consciousness (74%), effort with breathing (71%), variable timeframe to death (68%), breathing pattern (65%), sound during breathing (61%), and loss of bowel control/incontinence (52%).
Kirchhoff
Karin T
KT
University of Wisconsin, School of Nursing, Madison, WI 53792-2455, USA. ktkirchoff@facstaff.wisc.edu
Conradt
Kay Lynn
KL
Anumandla
Prashanth Reddy
PR
D001293:Attitude to Death; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D028761:Withholding Treatment