Nursing patients suffering from trauma: Critical care nurses narrate their experiences

SummaryThe aim of this study was to describe critical care nurses’ experiences of nursing patients suffering from trauma. Eight critical care nurses were interviewed. Qualitative thematic content analysis was applied to the data and resulted in one theme; ‘Needing to feel in control and part of a team’, with six categories; ‘different ways of dealing with uncertainty’, ‘feelings of responsibility and security’, ‘wanting to relieve the pain’, ‘supporting the relatives’, ‘suppressing one’s own feelings’, and ‘reflecting over one’s work’. The findings show the importance of preparation for caring for a patient suffering from trauma. Standardized care of the patient according to Advanced Trauma Life Support was described as a good basis, but for the quality of care to be good this always had to be complemented with personal nursing care for the patient and care for their relatives. This study contributes knowledge about meeting critically ill patients suffering from trauma and suggestions about how to cope with thoughts that might arise after a serious situation in nursing care.