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Johanna J.

Mrs. Johanna J., a single mother, had to be admitted to the intensive care unit as an emergency case. With acute shortness of breath, she was dependent on ventilation and intensive medical treatment for many weeks. A lot of patience was needed to cope with this long time on equipment, helplessness and subsequent rehabilitation. She found great support in her family and children.

VIDEO

Patients are delighted to be included

Mrs. Johanna J. was happy to participate in decisions, even if only by nodding. This has helped to create a situation of trust.

Video Interview

TRANSCRIPT

I : ‘Were you involved in decisions in the intensive care unit? Do you remember being asked things? E : Mhm. Mhm. I : Yes? E : Yes, yes. Also about the children. They talked to me first. I : Mhm. E : They prepared a solution for me and told me that. You said that's how we see it and I could nod yes or no. Just in the decision with the children. Then they organised everything so that it would stand up in the eyes of the law. I : Mhm. E : Which of course had to do with therapy, there wasn't much of a right to co-decision. It was simply done. I : Mhm. E : Well, you know that and I have to say, I never questioned it. I : Mhm. E : Because I always thought you knew what you were doing. Not me. I : Mhm. E : Well, I trusted place 2 100%. I : Mhm. E : No. I never questioned why we were doing it this way. I hated the standing table to death.

Other experiences by Johanna J.

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Johanna J.

Mrs. Johanna J., a single mother, had to be admitted to the intensive care unit as an emergency case. With acute shortness of breath, she was dependent on ventilation and intensive medical treatment for many weeks. A lot of patience was needed to cope with this long time on equipment, helplessness and subsequent rehabilitation. She found great support in her family and children.

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Johanna J.

Mrs. Anna A. mentioned the noise by other patients.

Ms Anna A. is disturbed by the proximity and discomfort of the other intensive care patients.

General perception / overview of the intensive care

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

Mrs. Johanna J. was between dreams and confusion.

Because Mrs. Johanna J. was so confused, she had great difficulty classifying the situation in the intensive care unit.

State of consciousness and memory issues

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

Mrs. Johanna J. remembers through a diary.

Ms. Johanna J. recounts memories from a diary written for her by ICU staff.

State of consciousness and memory issues

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

Inability to communicate

In Mrs. Johanna's case, the protective balm on her eyes prevented communication with her eyelids. She could hear, but not transmit her feelings and sensations back. Eventually, she resigned herself to this helpless situation.

Communication issues in the intensive care unit (ICU)

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

Feeling of fear and being ignored

Mrs. Johanna J explains that one of the nurses had a communication relationship that didn't take account of calls or sleep periods. This caused both a feeling of fear and of being ignored.

Communication issues in the intensive care unit (ICU)

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

The team's main focus is on the machines

Mrs. Johanna J.'s sense of helplessness was total: not only could she do nothing herself, but she was also unable to convey her difficulties to the clinical team, whose attention was focused on the vital data from the devices.

Good to know to improve intensive care unit (ICU) patient experience

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

Patients are delighted to be included

Mrs. Johanna J. was happy to participate in decisions, even if only by nodding. This has helped to create a situation of trust.

Good to know to improve intensive care unit (ICU) patient experience

Experiences in Intensive Care

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Johanna J.

Competence

Even when she was impatient, Mrs. Johanna J remembered the great work of the team.

Emotional events and experiences to take home with you

Experiences in Intensive Care

View all experiences

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