title: To feel strong in an unfamiliar situation; Patients' lived experiences of neurosurgical intensive care. A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of conscious patients in neurosurgical intensive care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection was performed by qualitative interviews using an interview guide. Eleven former patients, seven women and four men, were interviewed two to 14 months after discharge. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis revealed three themes: To feel safe in an unfamiliar situation, to experience strains and limitations, and to be confirmed as a human being. These three themes culminated in the essence: To feel strong in an unfamiliar situation. Patients experienced a soothing environment where, despite strains, they felt safe being cared for in a ward with specialised medical treatment. When mental and physical strains decreased during the period of care, they experienced the ability to cope with the simplest tasks as a sign of regained identity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' main experience during intensive care was security. Security along with human contact and interaction with staff and next of kin made the patients feel strengthened as human beings in an unfamiliar situation. The fact that the patients were conscious enabled them to understand their situation and to experience security.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro Surgery and Neurosurgical Intensive Care, Linköping University Hospital and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mylén
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro Surgery and Neurosurgical Intensive Care, Linköping University Hospital and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: carina.bertero@liu.se.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berterö
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Interaction; Interpretive phenomenology; Neurosurgical intensive care; Nursing; Security