Strategies for Family-Centered End-of-Life Care in the Adult Intensive Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• End-of-Life Care
• Family Support

Background:

• Family-centered care is crucial for intensive care unit (ICU) families during end-of-life transitions.
• Nurses are central to care delivery across three distinct phases: admission, prognosis realization, and active dying.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of nurses in family-centered end-of-life care within the ICU.
• To identify strategies for overcoming barriers to effective family support during critical care transitions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of nursing roles and experiences in end-of-life care.
• Identification of key phases and challenges in supporting ICU families.
• Review of strategies to enhance family-centered care.

Main Results:

• Nurses significantly impact family experiences during admission, prognosis realization, and active dying.
• Barriers include intrafamilial conflicts and organizational constraints.
• Effective strategies involve early palliative care, regular family meetings, spiritual support, and bereavement services.

Conclusions:

• Implementing family-centered care models is essential for improving ICU family outcomes.
• Nurses require support and resources to effectively manage end-of-life care challenges.
• Addressing nurse well-being is critical for sustained, high-quality care delivery.