Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
An Educational Video Demonstration of How to Prone a Critically Ill Intubated Patient
Published on: November 30, 2022
Nurses' Role in Transitional Care During Intensive Care Unit Family Meetings for Patients With Prolonged Mechanical
HyunBin You1, Sharron L Docherty2,3, Deepshikha C Ashana3,4,5
1School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Aim:
To describe nurses' roles in transitional care planning during intensive care unit (ICU) family meetings for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV).
Design:
A qualitative descriptive study.
Methods:
Using secondary data from a trial of a decision aid about PMV, transcripts from 19 unstructured ICU family meetings were purposively sampled and analysed using directed content analysis.
Findings:
Among 76 recorded ICU family meetings where nurses engaged and spoke at length beyond introduction, nurses spoke at length in 19 (25%) of them. These 19 family meetings were analysed in depth. Three themes were identified describing the roles nurses served: (1) Transitional care liaisons (e.g., introducing next levels of care, identifying/engaging family members, providing patient/family education, managing medications, planning for discharge, assessing patient/family needs, coordinating care, setting goals, providing care continuity, offering provider guidance and referring to resources); (2) information and communication facilitators (e.g., moderating family meetings, facilitating family understanding and serving as communication intermediaries) and (3) family support providers (e.g., providing emotional support, describing expectations and advocating for patients/families).
Conclusion:
Although nurses play a central role in patient care, they engage in only a minority of ICU family meetings addressing transitional care planning. Increased nursing involvement in these discussions may enhance care coordination and better support families navigating complex care transitions.
Implications For Clinical Practice:
Findings suggest that more consistent engagement of nurses in ICU family meetings has the potential to support transitional care planning and family-centred care for patients with PMV and their families.
Impact:
This work adds to a growing body of knowledge about nurses' role in ICU transitional care planning. These findings provide valuable guidance for future research and development of transitional care standards to guide nurses in ICU transitional care planning.
Reporting Method:
The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist (COREQ).
Patient Or Public Contribution:
No patient or public contribution.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Endotracheal Intubation II: Nursing Management
1. Nursing Care of Patients Before Intubation
Before the endotracheal intubation procedure, nurses play an essential role in ensuring the process goes smoothly. The nurses must be familiar with intubation...
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:15Endotracheal Intubation I: Procedure
The ET tube comprises various components, including a standard adaptor to attach a bag-valve-mask (BVM) or ventilator, a cuff, a pilot balloon, and radiopaque markings along its length to measure the insertion distance. The tube sizes...
01:16Oxygen Delivering System II: Venturi Mask and Transtracheal Oxygen
Venturi Mask
The Venturi mask, named after the Venturi effect, is designed to deliver precise oxygen concentrations. It consists of a large tube with an oxygen inlet that narrows down, causing a pressure drop that pulls air in through adjustable side ports. The mask is a lightweight,...
01:21Planning Nursing Care I