title: Nurses' experiences of caring for the relatives of patients in ICU.
abstract: To date there have been no published qualitative studies looking solely at the experiences of nurses caring for the relatives of patients who are critically ill. This small-scale phenomenological study explores such experiences. Three intensive care units in North West England were included; the nine participants were D grade or above, with a minimum of three months' ICU experience. Each nurse attended a tape-recorded, unstructured interview to discuss caring for relatives. A thematic analysis of the nurses' comments was then performed. Although many of the nurses understood the benefits of performing the care-giver role to families, some nurses felt inadequately prepared. There were also issues about whether they felt supported by colleagues in undertaking this role.
authors.affiliation: University of Salford, Manchester.
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hardicre
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003643:Death; D032981:Dehumanization; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D004739:England; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support