Critical care clinics
-
Dyspnea is a subjective experience that can be reported by the patient. Respiratory distress is an observable corollary, and represents the physical or emotional suffering that results from the experience of dyspnea. Recognizing and understanding this subjective phenomenon poses a challenge to intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians when caring for the patient who is dying in the ICU. ⋯ As with pain, the treatment of dyspnea and respiratory distress relies on close evaluation of the patient and treatment to satisfactory effect. Empirical evidence suggests that quality care with control of distressing symptoms does not hasten death. Withholding opioids or sedatives in the face of unrelieved dyspnea or respiratory distress has no moral foundation.
-
There are certainly many coping behaviors that may assist ICU caregivers in the process of caring for themselves. Staff support groups,regular interdisciplinary meetings to discuss difficult cases,and bringing trained personnel into the intensive care unit (ICU)environment to offer staff training in communication and conflict resolution skills have been suggested as methods for alleviating caregiver stress. ⋯ Over the next years, as the population ages, and as technologic advances continue, the critical care units will play an even more prominent role in health care. Given the threat posed by the severe nursing shortage, it becomes apparent that, to prepare for this increased need for critical care services, efforts must be directed to identify the sources of distress for ICU caregivers and develop focused training programs that alleviate the inevitably strains and pressures that arise in the process of compassionate caring for the critically ill.
-
Critical care clinics · Jul 2004
ReviewSpirituality in health: the role of spirituality in critical care.
Caring for critically ill patients requires that physicians and other health care professionals recognize the potential importance of spirituality in the lives of patients, families, and loved ones and in their own lives. Patients and loved ones undergo tremendous stress and suffering in facing critical illness. ⋯ Spiritual beliefs can also impact how people cope with illness. By addressing spiritual issues of patients, loved ones, and ourselves, we can create more holistic and compassionate systems of care.