Abstract
The family is greatly affected when one member is admitted to a critical care unit. Critical care nurses are in an ideal position to help families cope with the crisis of a critical illness. Those who are knowledgeable of family member needs will provide more compassionate and effective nursing care to both the patient and family.
This study investigated the needs of family members of patients in the critical care unit and compared them to the critical care nurse's perception of those needs. The sample consisted of 55 critical care nurses and 51 family members of critically ill patients from a 350 bed southwestern private hospital.
The null hypothesis stated there would be no significant difference (p=.05) between identified family member needs and the nurses perception of family member needs in the critical care unit. The (CCFNI) Critical Care Family Needs Inventory was utilized as a research tool (Molter, 1976). The instrument consists of 44 family member need statements rated on a Likert scale from 1 (not important) to 4 (very important).
The study found that although some needs were ranked in the same order of importance by both family members and critical care nurses, most were not. However, calculation of mean values found both nurses and family members ranked "To have questions answered honestly" and "To be assured that the best care possible is being given to the patient" as the most important needs. Family members' emotional needs were found to be the least important in the first 72 hour period after the patient's admission to the critical care unit.
Chi Square analysis reflected significant differences in ranking of 23 needs at the .05 level. "To visit at any time," "To be told about someone that could help with family problems," "To talk about negative feelings such as guilt or anger," and "To know how the patient is being treated medically" had the greatest variation.
Further research would assist nurses in identifying primary family needs and aid families in coping with the crisis of critical illness, which may influence both patient outcome and family integrity.
LLU Discipline
Nursing
Department
Nursing
School
Graduate School
First Advisor
Patricia S. Jones
Second Advisor
Karen L. Carrigg
Third Advisor
Jeanette R. Earnhardt
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Level
M.S.
Year Degree Awarded
1989
Date (Title Page)
6-1989
Language
English
Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings
Critical Care -- psychology; Crisis Intervention; Family
Type
Thesis
Page Count
vii; 65
Digital Format
Digital Publisher
Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright
Author
Usage Rights
This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.
Recommended Citation
Sobieszyk, Nicolle C., "Needs of Family Members of Patients in the Critical Care Unit and the Nurse's Perception of Those Needs" (1989). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 1619.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1619
Collection
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Collection Website
http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/
Repository
Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives