The nurse who held my hand…Intensive care patient’s experiences of being intubated or tracheostomated - a literature study

Being a patient in intensive care can be experienced terrifying. Studies have demonstrated the link between unpleasant memories of hospitalization in the ICU and the development of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and perception of quality of life in its aftermath. Placed on a ventilator, the patient is exposed to multiple invasive procedures. The aim was to describe critical care patients' experience of being intubated or tracheostomated. Method: Literature review using conventional content analysis. Searches were made in the databases Cinahl and Pubmed. Results: The study revealed four main categories: Discomfort, Vulnerability and Communication difficulties that were tied together by category Relief. It turned out that the patients experienced a discomfort caused by the endotracheal tube. Suctioning of airways remembered many of the patients in both discomfort and relief. Being dependent on a ventilator and equipment in order to survive, causing a feeling of vulnerability. Many patients lost hope when they could not communicate, make themselves understood and to be involved in their care. The medical staff has a significant impact on their experiences of intensive care. To find out the reason they were intubated / tracheostomated reduced their fear. This information helped them to bond with reality. The nurse has responsibility to act with compassion and empathy, theory and knowledge to reduce anxiety and facilitate hospital stay for patients