Author(s)

Kajsa Bäcklund¹, Karoline Persson¹, Emina Hadziabdic^2*

¹Blekingesjukhuset, Karlskrona, Sweden.
²Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that a light sedation level is beneficial for intubated patients in the Intensive care unit (ICU). Aim: This study aimed to describe intensive care nurses’ experiences of caring for intubated patients under light sedation. Methods: This study was an explorative descriptive qualitative study. Data were collected from 12 intensive care nurses by three focus group interviews and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Five categories emerged from the data: 1) the importance of verbal communication and the nurses’ presence, 2) feelings of frustration and heavy workload, 3) assessment of patients’ pain and anxiety, 4) the nurses’ desire for the development of guidelines, and 5) being inspired by the care. Conclusion: The study found that intensive care nurses were positive towards light sedation care but the organization of care did not support them as the patients cared for with light sedation treatments demanded their physical presence at patients’ bed site.

Intensive Care Nurse, Light Sedation, Experiences, Caring, Focus Groups, Qualitative Content Analysis

Bäcklund, K. , Persson, K. and Hadziabdic, E. (2018) Intensive Care Nurses’ Experiences of Caring for Intubated Patients under Light Sedation: A Qualitative Study. Open Journal of Nursing, 8, 473-484. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2018.87036.