Experiences of relatives of patients seen in a hospital emergency setting
Section: Featured Articles
How to quote
Miladi Fernández Stumm E et ál. Experiencias de familiares de pacientes atendidos en la urgencia hospitalaria. Metas de Enferm nov 2011; 14(9): 14-19
Authors
1Eniva Miladi Fernández Stumm, 2Cleusa Oliveira Novais, 3Marli Maria Loro, 4Liamara Denise Ubessi
Position
1Enfermera. Maestra en Administración por la UFRGS, profesora del Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida de la Universidad Regional del Noroes
Contact address
Eniva Miladi Fernández Stumm. Calle del Comercio, 3000. Barrio Universitario. 98700.000 Ijuí-RS (Brasil).
Contact email: eniva@unijui.edu.br
Abstract
Objective: to determine and understand the experiences of relatives of users accessing the emergency unit of a general hospital.
Material and methods: a qualitative descriptive study was conducted in the emergency unit of a hospital in the northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in October 2009. The sample was composed of ten family members of patients seen at the mentioned unit. The open interview was used which was recorded and transcribed. The content analysis of the tapes was performed according to the “thematic” preceptor analysis.
Results and conclusions: an analytical category called “being at the other side of the door: relatives of patients seen in a hospital emergency unit” emerged, which was divided into two subcategories: 1) fragility: coming face to the face with the unexpected and the fear of losing the beloved relative; and 2) feeling of guilt; faith in God, and an attempt to try and understand the behaviour of the beloved relative.
It is the responsibility of the healthcare professionals that act in emergency services to respond to the need of the patient´s relatives to inform them accurately of their relative´s status, to comfort them, and to deal with their fear and insecurities.
Listening to the relatives allows nurses to identify their needs and to include in the care plan strategies aimed at meeting such needs.
The results yielded by this work will serve to think about the importance of a more customised and integral nursing care.
Material and methods: a qualitative descriptive study was conducted in the emergency unit of a hospital in the northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in October 2009. The sample was composed of ten family members of patients seen at the mentioned unit. The open interview was used which was recorded and transcribed. The content analysis of the tapes was performed according to the “thematic” preceptor analysis.
Results and conclusions: an analytical category called “being at the other side of the door: relatives of patients seen in a hospital emergency unit” emerged, which was divided into two subcategories: 1) fragility: coming face to the face with the unexpected and the fear of losing the beloved relative; and 2) feeling of guilt; faith in God, and an attempt to try and understand the behaviour of the beloved relative.
It is the responsibility of the healthcare professionals that act in emergency services to respond to the need of the patient´s relatives to inform them accurately of their relative´s status, to comfort them, and to deal with their fear and insecurities.
Listening to the relatives allows nurses to identify their needs and to include in the care plan strategies aimed at meeting such needs.
The results yielded by this work will serve to think about the importance of a more customised and integral nursing care.
Versión en Español
Título:
Experiencias de familiares de pacientes atendidos en la urgencia hospitalaria
