Critical care nurses' experiences of helicopter transfers.
BACKGROUND
Intensive care is conducted in intensive care units (ICUs), and also during the transportation of critically ill people.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to describe critical care nurses' (CCNs) experiences of nursing critically ill patients during helicopter transport.


METHODS
Seven CCNs, five women and two men participated in this study.


METHODS
Seven participants from two centres in Sweden were recruited. The design uses an inductive, qualitative approach with data collected by means of qualitative interviews with seven CCNs.


METHODS
The interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to qualitative thematic content analysis.


RESULTS
The analysis resulted in one theme which is safe nursing care, but sometimes feeling afraid and six categories as follows: experiencing the care environment as an ICU with limited space; a loud environment complicates communication; planning and checking to minimize risks; experience and good co-operation; facing the dilemma of allowing relatives to accompany the patient or not; feeling the patient's and their own fear.


CONCLUSIONS
CCNs plan for the transportation and control of patients to improve patient safety, but can sometimes feel afraid. Good co-operation is necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
The possibilities for CCNs to provide effective nursing care in helicopters are good, although in some cases limited by the environmental conditions.
J Senften, RN, CCN, MSc, Critical Care Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Gällivare Hospital, Gällivare, Sweden.
Jonah
J
Senften
Åsa
Å
Engström
D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration*
Inductive Content Analysis; Intensive Care; Monitoring; Qualitative Research; Team Working; Transport/Transfer