Perceived and unmet needs of critical care family members

Family members of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) may experience stress, disorganization, and helplessness which may ultimately result in difficulty in mobilizing appropriate coping resources, thus leading to anxiety. The needs of family members are varied, and critical care nurses must become attuned to these needs and acquire the skills to direct their interventions more appropriately. This article presents the findings from a study that assessed the perceived level of importance of the needs of family members during the first 18 to 24 hours after admission to the ICU using the Critical care Family Needs Inventory. The study identified which needs were perceived as being met or unmet by the family members using the Needs Met Inventory after 36 to 48 hours had elapsed.