Nurses' experience of nursing care in the intensive care unit: a qualitative study

The quality of patient and nurse care varies. Differences can be influenced by factors such as the type of department, individuals’ beliefs, and rules. Nurses play an important role in providing care in intensive care units. Qualitative studies are very helpful in identifying the challenges and obstacles in the way of care. Therefore, the present study was conducted to identify nurses' experiences of nursing care in the intensive care unit.

Materials: 

This was a qualitative research using conventional content analysis. Based on purposed sampling 15 nurses, head nurses and supervisors participant which working in the intensive care unit. Data were collected through individual and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed based on Graneheim and Lundman proposed method.

Three categories and six subcategories were extracted. The "working nature of the ward" with two sub-categories of working conditions and the structure of the ward, the "safe care" with the two subcategories, sustain standards and optimal conditions, and the "unsafe care" included two subcategories of negligence and ignorance.

Data analysis showed that in order to provide optimal care, while paying attention to the nature of the intensive care unit, the role of safe care should also be considered.