Resurser för närstående på Sveriges intensivvårdsavdelningar - En kartläggning
In the care for the critically ill patient the next of kin is of great importance. Their support, love and care for the patient, increases the wellbeing and makes a connection to the patient?s normal lifeworld. For the next of kin to be able to be that support the next of kin needs to be helped to maintain the basic need of for example their sleep, food, hygiene and psychosocial support. The critical care nurse must see to the patient?s whole lifeworld which includes their next of kin.The aim of the study was to identify the resources available for the next of kin in intensive care units in Sweden. The study has its origin in a quantitative approach and a multiple choice questionnaire survey was selected as the data collection method. The respondents were intensive care employees from all over Sweden. At the time of the study, there were 86 intensive care units in Sweden which all were invited to participate in the study. Answers were received from 53 respondents representing ~62 % of ICUs in Sweden.The findings revealed that the resources for next of kin among the responding units were overall good to maintain the basic needs. The units mainly provided 1-2 rooms for the next of kin to use for resting and recovery while staying at the hospital. All the units were available to telephone 24 hours a day but there were some units that had restrictions when it came to visiting the critically ill patient. All ICUs in Sweden were invited to participate in the study but there were 38 % which chose not to participate. The outcome of the study could therefore have been different if the nonparticipant ICUs had different resources and opinions when it came to the care for the next of kin of patients staying at ICU. The conclusion is that intensive care units in Sweden has overall good resources to care for next of kin while visiting and staying at ICUs.