Patient and Family Centered Care in Critical Care Environment -Essay

Stage 2 So what?

After watching the videos, I gained several insights regarding patient and family-centred care in critical care, where the most important aspect was the cruciality and integration of the emotional and psychological well-being of the patient particularly in the overwhelming and stressful environment of the ICU. The technical aspects such as monitoring vitals, administering medicine and drugs and equipment management are crucial, and the emotional and relational element of human connection in the care must not be ignored as it is equally important in ensuring patients' overall well-being (Acebedo-Urdiales et al. 2018, p.347).

In one of the videos where patient expressed gratitude for the attention, she received from the nurses who made her experience positive by washing her hair daily and giving her lavender-scented products that helped her with sleep. This gesture was a reflection that care is not just a physical aspect but a way to recognise patients as individuals, not mere cases and upholding their dignity and comfort in a vulnerable environment. This helped her by fostering a sense of normalcy and provided her with a human touch, which is crucial for the recovery process. Holistic care, the concept where physical and emotional needs are catered to in patient care (Babaei, Haghighat & Kheirollahi 2022, p. 27), is something that resonated with me as I believe that patients should be recognized as individuals first, who have emotional, and psychological and social needs, and these must be addressed along with the physical ones.

In another situation, the importance of consistent care was highlighted as the patient was frustrated with the lack of consistent care. Different nurses were assigned to the patient who approached her care in various ways. This highlighted the major issue of, where there was a need for efficient handovers for the changing shifts, to maintain consistent care.  Continuity of care is a crucial aspect of patient-centred care such that care provided remains seamless and the healthcare providers collaborate efficiently to form a systematic care plan (Limbu, Kongsuwan & Yodchai 2018, p. 13). A care plan that fosters a sense of familiarity and trust for the medical team providing care, is necessary for patients who have been dealing with feelings of vulnerability and uncertainty (Kramlich 2016, p.55). These observations encouraged me to reflect on my professional approach.  I have witnessed several cases where continuity of care was lacking during my clinical placement. This was more evident during the frequent change of shifts. On one particular occasion, when a patient was being transferred to another ward, the shift changed and the new team did not have all the necessary information and details regarding the patient care needs. This resulted in the delay of his treatment process; however such situations occur frequently in busy healthcare environments, it reflected the necessity of communication and efficient documentation as voiced by one of the patients in the video.

I also pondered over the fact that how nurses must cater for the technical aspects of critical care and deliver it with a human touch such that the patient feels humane and valued. Since ICU demands critical care, the staff can become too focused on machines, readings and other clinical task, where the emotional needs of the patient can be put at the back in such circumstances (Costa & Moss 2018, p.788). Here the patient feels like a mere case rather than a person who is going through fear and discomfort. Watching these videos, reminded me that the staff must be proficient in the technical skills but also remember to take a humane approach towards duties such that the patient feels like a person with concerns and needs.  Also watching these videos highlighted the importance of effective communication with patients and with their families. Nurses must listen to the needs and concerns of the patients and their families and be transparent about the condition and treatment options. It is also important to impart the difficult news to the patient with an empathetic tone as it leaves long long-lasting impression on the patient (Hannan et al. 2019, p. 196); as observed in one of the videos. Through transparent and open communication, a feeling of trust will be established that will reduce the feelings of anxiety ensuring a positive healthcare experience (Zare et al. 2020, p.2021).