What should family members be aware of when visiting an ICU patient?

Question

Kali Dayton,DNP,AGACNP · Answer

Families in the ICU should be aware that 1. They are an essential part of their loved one's chances of surviving and thriving during and after the ICU. 2. They can and should ask questions. And 3. In many of our ICUs, we have very outdated beliefs and treatments in regards to sedation and how we care for patients on mechanical ventilation. Many clinicians still believe that every patient that is intubated on a ventilator must be sedated and cannot mobilize. And this is very dangerous and even lethal. So loved ones should ask 1. Does my patient have an indication for sedation? Is there a reason they're sedated? And 2. Is there a reason they can't be mobilized? And 3. Are we preventing, assessing for, and treating ICU delirium? And 4. When and how can we get sedation off and get my loved one up and moving? You can greatly impact the course and the outcomes of your loved one's ICU stay by understanding that you are part of the team, that there are things that we can improve on the ICU, and you can be an active part of improving those things for your loved one.

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"What should family members be aware of when visiting an ICU patient?"