Family supports intensive care

When a patient is in intensive care, this often gives the family a sense of helplessness. They do not want to look defenseless, but are there for their neighbor to help with care. No way. ICU nurses at Jeroen Bosch Hospital have therefore developed a "participation menu". A list of actions that family members can help, such as washing their hair, brushing their teeth, reading a book, and participating in meals or drinks. They hope to limit the impact, often important, that a record has on the UTI. For the patient and his family.

Certainty and Support

A study conducted by Eline Schippers and Irene de Kroon and Irene de Kroon, ICU nurses, showed that the family generally likes to take care of one's neighbor. Irene: "We saw in the department that the family needed security and support.The family wants to contribute to the care of their neighbor.The provision of information has proven to be very important.The family wants to understand what care is needed to be able to participate effectively and this gives less stress to the family and the patient by giving them control. "

The participation menu is an idea derived from Family Integrated Care. Integrated family care is different ways to involve the family more in caring for their neighbor in intensive care. The JHA Child Department has been working on this method for some time. Here, parents help take care of their children.

What is important and necessary

Eline: "We recently had a patient who had lived many months ago, she was very sick and being sick made her anxious, her husband slept in her room with her during She made it visibly good for her family, and for each patient we look at what is important and necessary for him and what the family can mean. "

The participation menu not only helps the family and the patient, but also guarantees health professionals more time for care where the family can not help. "In the beginning, accompanying the family may take a little longer, but if family members can do the participatory menu actions once, we'll keep more in the background.", According to Eline

& # 39; Participation menu, beautiful addition & # 39;

The IC uses a variety of means to make care appropriate for patients and families. Family rooms, follow up, diary, diary, children's suitcase, family reunions and flexible visit schedules … The participation menu is an interesting addition to this offer.

Source: Jeroen Bosch Hospital