Approaches of intensive care nurses towards sensory requirements of patients

Aims and objectives This study aimed to identify the approaches used by nurses to address the sensory requirements of patients to respond to the concerns and needs in this area. Background Preventing sensory problems is very important for intensive care nurses as these problems may cause various additional health problems in intensive care patients; however, no study has evaluated the approaches used by nurses in this respect. Design The study was conducted as a descriptive study in all internal medicine intensive care units at hospitals located within the borders of the metropolitan municipality in the capital city of Turkey. Method Data were collected using case forms that were developed through expert opinions to identify the approaches of nurses for the sensory requirements of patients. The study was conducted with 95 nurses who agreed to be involved in the study of the 107 internal medicine intensive care nurses in the research population. Results Most of the nurses (86·3%) who took part in this study indicated that intensive care patients had sensory requirements, but 80% clarified that their priority was to maintain life support and to meet their physiological needs. Almost all of the nurses were able to accurately identify the specific sensory problems of the six different ones in cases that were assigned to them. However, this ratio decreased when identifying the proper approach for the given sensory requirement. Conclusions Nurses were able to identify sensory requirements of patients, but they do need support in deciding the appropriate management approach. This study may fill the gap in the literature regarding the approaches of nurses towards sensory requirements and to provide contribution for future research. Relevance to clinical practice To help intensive care patients with sensory problems, nurses should routinely assess patients' psychology and should do appropriate interventions.