Emotions in the Intensive Care Unit

Intensive care unit (ICU) personnel are primarily focused on the physical survival or demise of their patients. For matters of emotion and religion or belief, specialists are called in. Yet patients and their families do not compartmentalize so neatly, saving their emotional or spiritual issues for the appearance of such specialists. Emotions are a part of everything. They do, in fact, operate as guides for living (and dying), and should be a most integral part of the operation of every ICU. For purposes of discussion, we will break the areas of strongest emotion apart. In reality, emotions of patient, family, ICU doctors, nurses, and other personnel all occur simultaneously, interacting in subtle yet powerful ways. Facilitating the easy flow and validation of emotions can allow patients and families, as well as medical personnel, to accomplish their respective jobs in the ICU in the best possible manner.