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
Mrs. Johanna J. remembers through a diary.
Ms. Johanna J. recounts memories from a diary written for her by ICU staff.
Video Interview
TRANSCRIPT
Related experiences
Anna A.
Ms. Anna A. later learns from her doctor that she has been intubated.
Ms. Anna A. learns that she has been intubated when the physician tells her in an explanatory conversation 6 months after her discharge from the intensive care unit.
State of consciousness and memory issues
Anonymus 1
This person remembers with the help of her family.
This person reconstructed her memories of the time in the intensive care unit with the help of her family's narratives.
State of consciousness and memory issues
Other experiences by Johanna J.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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