Exploring the concept of "resuscitability" in an adult trauma population

Resuscitability is a concept often used during the resuscitation of injured patients but remains unnamed, unexplored, and undefined. This article explores resuscitability as it pertains to nurses caring for adult trauma patients for the purposes of concept development. After a review of the literature, dimensions discovered include physiologic, legal, ethical, and societal. Development of the concept of resuscitability can be used to address issues related to trauma resuscitations. Trauma nurses care for severely injured patients on each of the dimensional levels identified and thus understanding the meaning of resuscitability will help nurses better care for their injured patients.