Nurses Empathy and Family Needs in the Intensive Care Units.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Quality of care will be improved best if the nurse can develop a good relationship with patient, his family, physicians, other nurse and health team members as well as other health care centers. Empathy is an important ability that will help health care provider to understand others' perception of him and then coordinate with it. The nurse's perception of family needs is one of the most essential components of holistic family –centered care. They are to be able to respond to health crisis and play an active role in performing healthcare management. The aim of the present study is to assess nursing empathy and its relationship with the requirements of ICU patients' families. Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive study in which 418 family members of ICU patients were selected using convenience sampling method. Data were collected through Barrett -Lennard Empathy scale (BLRI) and Critical Care Family Needs Intervention (CCFNI) inventories and were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests (mean), correlation tests (Pearson & Friedman) and SPSS 13. Results: According to the research findings, patients' relatives gave the first priority to being informed of the treatments provided. (Men: 31/93). Most of the participated nurse practitioners showed high level of empathy to the patients. There also was significant relationship between nurses' empathy level and the needs of patients' family members (p<0.001). Conclusion: In this study we found that direct correlation between the care givers needs and nurses empathy. So through empathic communication nurses can encourage family members to participate in planning for the care of their patients and we should notice that, physicians and nurse practitioners' primary responsibility is to meet the needs of ICU patients' families.