Factors associated with critical care nurses' communication with non-communicative patients in the ICU

Authors

Michelle Binns, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Nursing

First Advisor's Name

Divina Grossman

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Tomas Madayag

Third Advisor's Name

Sue Kopel

Date of Defense

11-20-1998

Abstract

Hospitalized individuals are isolated from their familiar environment at the onset of illness. Those individuals who are non-communicative are detached from the world and from life, as they previously knew it. Although nurses have long since recognized the importance of communication, patients still report the lack of iy. This study was done to identify factors influencing critical care nurses to communicate with their noncommunicative patients.

The overall results of the study indicate that nurses are aware of the importance of verbal communication with patients who may be intubated, paralyzed, unconscious, comatose or neurologically impaired and are not deterred by them. Despite these results, some significant observations emerged identified. CCRN certified nurses and nurses with more years of experience were less likely to have verbal communication with noncommunicative patients. Nurses with children, spouses and those working full-time were more likely to communicate with non-communicative patients.

Identifier

FI14051155

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Binns, Michelle, "Factors associated with critical care nurses' communication with non-communicative patients in the ICU" (1998). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1680.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1680