The experience of intensive care nurses caring for patients with delirium: A phenomenological study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of this research was to seek to understand the lived experience of intensive care nurses caring for patients with delirium. The objectives of this inquiry were: 1) To examine intensive care nurses’ experiences of caring for adult patients with delirium; 2) To identify factors that facilitate or hinder intensive care nurses caring for these patients. Research methodologyThis study utilised an interpretive phenomenological approach as described by van Manen. SettingIndividual conversational interviews were conducted with eight intensive care nurses working in a tertiary level, university-affiliated hospital in Canada. FindingsThe essence of the experience of nurses caring for patients with delirium in intensive care was revealed to be finding a way to help them come through it. Six main themes emerged: It’s Exhausting; Making a Picture of the Patient’s Mental Status; Keeping Patients Safe: It’s aReally Big Job; Everyone Is Unique; Riding It Out With Families and Taking Every Experience With You. ConclusionThe findings contribute to an understanding of how intensive care nurses help patients and their families through this complex and distressing experience.