Intensive Care Unit Nurse's Communication Experience

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the communication experience of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in the workplace. Methods: The present study utilized a qualitative approach using focus group interview method. A total of three focus groups of 15 ICU nurses from two university hospitals were formed. The conversations during the focus group interviews were recorded and analyzed through Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: As a result of analyzing participants' conversation, Five theme clusters were elicited, namely, “one-way communication”, “differences in the position of senior and junior nurses”, “communication crisis”, “beginning of understanding”, and “movement toward change” out of 15 themes and 138 significant sentences. Conclusion: ICU nurses report having experienced communication crisis because of the one-way communication of the ICU nursing environment and the hierarchical differences in junior and senior nurses' position. Systematic education and continuous training on communication skills need to be provided to improve interpersonal relationship among nurses and work environment in the ICUs.