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Nurses’ experience of the transfer of ICU patients to general wards: A great responsibility and a huge challenge

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  • Ronny Enger
  • Birgitta Andershed

Abstract

Aims and objectives The aim of the study was to describe nurses’ experiences of patients’ transition from ICUs to general wards and their suggestions for improvements. Background In the ICU, the most seriously ill patients with life‐threatening conditions and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes are cared for and carefully monitored by specially trained professionals using advanced techniques for the prevention of failure of vital functions. The transfer of ICU patients to general wards means a change from a high to a lower level, including the loss of one‐to‐one nursing and a reduction of visible monitoring equipment and general close attention. Design A qualitative descriptive design. Methods Eight nurses from three different inpatient units in Norway, five from a university hospital and three from a local hospital were selected through a convenience sample. Interviews with open questions were conducted, and qualitative content analysis was used to explore the data. Results Nurses’ experiences were described in one main category: ICU patients’ transition—a great responsibility and a huge challenge, and two generic categories: (i) a challenging transition for nurses, patients and relatives and (ii) dialogue and competencies as tools for improvement, with six subcategories. Conclusion A number of factors affected patient care, such as poor cooperation, communication, reporting, expertise and clinical gaze. It was clear that the general wards had major challenges, and a number of improvements were suggested. Relevance to clinical practice This study shows that there is still a gap between the ICU and general wards and that nurses continue to struggle with this. It is therefore important that the managers responsible for the quality of care together with the professionals take seriously the criticism in the present and previous studies and work towards a safe transition for patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronny Enger & Birgitta Andershed, 2018. "Nurses’ experience of the transfer of ICU patients to general wards: A great responsibility and a huge challenge," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1-2), pages 186-194, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:27:y:2018:i:1-2:p:e186-e194
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.13911
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stine Irene Flinterud & Birgitta Andershed, 2015. "Transitions in the communication experiences of tracheostomised patients in intensive care: a qualitative descriptive study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(15-16), pages 2295-2304, August.
    2. Pam Ramsay & Guro Huby & Andrew Thompson & Tim Walsh, 2014. "Intensive care survivors' experiences of ward‐based care: Meleis' theory of nursing transitions and role development among critical care outreach services," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(5-6), pages 605-615, March.
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:2802 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Derek C. Angus & Mark A. Kelley & Robert Schmitz & Alan White & John Popovich, "undated". "Current and Projected Workforce Requirements for Care of the Critically Ill and Patients with Pulmonary Disease," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 33f21cd28e424d729fc73da7e, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anne Mette Nygaard & Hege Selnes Haugdahl & Berit Støre Brinchmann & Ranveig Lind, 2020. "Information concerning ICU patients’ families in the handover—The clinicians’ «game of whispers»: A qualitative study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(19-20), pages 3822-3834, October.
    2. Xiuzhu Gu & Kenji Itoh, 2021. "Organizational climate for safe and effective inter‐unit handoffs in Japanese hospitals," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1153-1165, July.

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