Stine Irene Flinterud1, Asgjerd Litleré Moi2, Eva Gjengedal3, Lisbet Narvestad Grenager4, Anne-Kristine Muri5, Sidsel Ellingsen6. 1. Centre of Diaconia and Professional Practice, VID Specialized University, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Stine.flinterud@vid.no. 2. Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway; Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Centre, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 3. Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway. 4. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. 5. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 6. Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Bergen, Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe the experiences of Norwegian intensive care unit nurses providing nurse-led follow-up to patients and their families. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study had a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Three focus-group interviews were conducted with nurses on three intensive care units. Giorgi's phenomenological method guided the analysis. FINDINGS: The creation of meaning emerged as a general structure describing intensive care nurses' experiences of nurse-led follow-up. When caring for critically ill patients, nurses described becoming emotionally moved, which motivated them to perform nurse-led follow-up procedures, such as writing in patient diaries. A general wish to give context to the patients' time spent in intensive care emerged. When conducting nurse-led follow-up, the nurses made personal contributions, which could be emotionally challenging for them. Overall, nurse-led follow-up was found to increase nurses' insight into and motivation for their own practice. CONCLUSION: The performance of nurse-led follow-up appears to be grounded in care for and engagement in individual patients and families. The nurses studied wanted to help patients and families to be able to handle their experiences during an intensive care stay. In addition, nurse-led follow-up gave meaning to the intensive care nurses' own practice.
OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe the experiences of Norwegian intensive care unit nurses providing nurse-led follow-up to patients and their families. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study had a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Three focus-group interviews were conducted with nurses on three intensive care units. Giorgi's phenomenological method guided the analysis. FINDINGS: The creation of meaning emerged as a general structure describing intensive care nurses' experiences of nurse-led follow-up. When caring for critically illpatients, nurses described becoming emotionally moved, which motivated them to perform nurse-led follow-up procedures, such as writing in patient diaries. A general wish to give context to the patients' time spent in intensive care emerged. When conducting nurse-led follow-up, the nurses made personal contributions, which could be emotionally challenging for them. Overall, nurse-led follow-up was found to increase nurses' insight into and motivation for their own practice. CONCLUSION: The performance of nurse-led follow-up appears to be grounded in care for and engagement in individual patients and families. The nurses studied wanted to help patients and families to be able to handle their experiences during an intensive care stay. In addition, nurse-led follow-up gave meaning to the intensive care nurses' own practice.