Effects of nurse caring behaviours on family stress responses in critical care

Although nurses realise the importance of the family in holistic care of the patient, often they are reluctant to integrate family into the ICU environment. The family role in patient healing has been minimised. There is incongruence in nurses' assessments and families' perceptions of what constitutes caring behaviours. Traditionally ICUs have been primarily patient focused; changing to family-centred will require attitude changes and a multidisciplinary team approach to care. Studies have shown families to be stressed and at significant risk for maladaptation when acute illness or trauma strikes. Nurses potentially may alter family stress responses through caring behaviours, and a family-centred approach to care.