In Brief:
In this hermeneutic phenomenological study using van Manen’s method, a sample of 10 patients, 5 family members, and 8 nurses of a nonprofit community hospital was recruited and interviewed in 2010-2011 to explore, understand, and describe their lived experiences during critical illness in the emergency department. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ Synergy Model for Patient Care was applied in conceptualizing the findings and served as a framework in recommending practices and interventions. The study supports recognizing the patient and family as active participants in the patient’s medical care, encouraging family-member presence and creating institutional policies for patient- and family-centered care, and encouraging the development of ongoing programs that will recognize, enhance, and support the psychological and emotional well-being of emergency department nurses.
