ICU Nurse Tips

Set a phone alarm to eat every 4 hours and keep a water bottle with you. Hospitals are dry environments and you need fuel to handle this crisis – you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Ask someone to cover for a few hours so you can rest at home or in a quiet space. If no one is available, ask the hospital social worker about respite resources.

Request to speak with a hospital social worker, case manager, and chaplain today. Social workers explain available resources, case managers coordinate complex care, and chaplains provide spiritual support.

Choose one family member as your main support person and give them hospital contact information. Divide ICU coverage into shifts and designate one person as the family information hub.

Choose one daily self-care activity that you’ll protect no matter what – even if it’s just 10 minutes. Begin with 5-minute activities that help you feel human again like showering or stepping outside.

Take our virtual ICU tour and ask your nurse follow-up questions about equipment specific to your loved one’s room or care. Understanding what each machine does reduces anxiety and helps you feel less overwhelmed.

Start a simple notebook or digital tool to systematically track medications, test results, medical conversations, and unfamiliar terms. Record names, dates, and follow-up plans from every medical conversation.

Document daily events, visitors, and progress for your loved one to read later during recovery. Include photos, cards from friends, or drawings from grandchildren to make it more personal and healing.

Introduce yourself and ask care providers to explain their roles. Learn the names and schedules of both day and night shift nurses to create consistency. Personal connections lead to better communication and care.

Bring personal items like photos, a favorite blanket, or music that represent your loved one’s personality and life outside the hospital. These personal touches make the sterile environment more human and comforting.

Write down questions before meetings or rounds. Ask ‘Help me understand…’ instead of ‘Why are you…?’ to create partnership rather than confrontation. Understanding what’s happening helps you feel more involved.

Understand that anger often masks grief for the life you had before this crisis – both feelings are normal. Identify where you can safely express frustration and know that you might need to step away to fall apart.

Ask nurses to teach you simple comfort measures you can provide – gentle massage, positioning, or soothing activities. Establish daily activities that bring normalcy and connection like reading, playing music, or sharing stories.

Make a list of three specific things that would help: meals, transportation, or someone to sit with you. When people offer help, pick one specific small task rather than trying to coordinate comprehensive support.

Ask nurses to explain what they’re doing when they provide care and request detailed information about your loved one’s condition. Understanding what improvements would look like helps you feel more involved and less anxious.

Ask the ICU team to explain exactly what will be different in the new unit and why your loved one is ready for the change. Request to meet nurses or staff from the new unit before the transfer so the transition feels less abrupt.

Write down exactly what scares you about leaving the ICU and ask the medical team to address each concern directly. Most fears become more manageable once you have specific information and plans to address them.

Share stories about who they are with nurses and doctors – their hobbies, sense of humor, or what matters to them. Consider making a posterboard with photos and information about your loved one’s life to display in their room.

Begin gathering information about what the next level of care might look like, including equipment needs and follow-up services, even if discharge seems far away. Early planning reduces stress and ensures you’re prepared.

Learn to advocate effectively by building relationships with staff and understanding how the care team works together. Start questions with ‘Help me understand…’ and ask to schedule regular meetings with the medical team.

Learn to set healthy boundaries while maintaining loving relationships with family and friends. It’s okay to limit how often you provide updates or respond to well-meaning but overwhelming messages.

At any time, you can ask for a formal meeting with the medical team and all family members to discuss options and make decisions together. This creates space for everyone to ask questions and ensure all voices are heard.

Establish clear plans for family emergencies while you’re focused on the ICU – who can cover childcare, pet care, or work responsibilities if you need to stay overnight unexpectedly.

Let people do small things without feeling obligated to reciprocate or organize their help. Accept meals, offers to run errands, or someone sitting with you without trying to manage every detail.

Sit quietly by their bedside and talk in a normal voice about everyday things – your familiar voice is medicine. Even if they’re non-responsive they can often hear you. Keep your loved one oriented by reminding them of the date, where they are, and why.

Unless there’s immediate urgency, ask for time to process information and discuss as a family before making major decisions. Focus decisions on what your loved one would want based on conversations you’ve had or their values and beliefs.

When people offer help, ask for things that enhance your loved one’s quality of life rather than just practical tasks. Request items that bring comfort like favorite snacks, soft blankets, or music playlists.

Ask to speak with the palliative care team, who can explain all options for comfort and quality of life alongside curative treatments. Palliative care doesn’t mean giving up – it means focusing on comfort, pain management, and quality of life.

Ask about support groups specifically for families of long-term ICU patients who understand your unique situation. Look for other families in waiting areas who might be going through similar experiences – sometimes just knowing you’re not alone helps.

Now is the time to recruit additional help for the rehabilitation phase of recovery when you’ll need different types of support. Plan how your support system will change when you’re no longer in the hospital environment.

Long-term ICU stays are traumatic for families, and professional support can help you process and cope with the emotional intensity. Consider both individual counseling and family therapy to navigate this crisis together.

Begin gathering information about what help you’ll need at home. Fill out our home prep worksheet, take photos of where your loved one will stay, and share these with your case manager or social worker.

Even 3-4 minutes of simple intentional breathing can really change your presence. Try box breathing or deep belly breathing. Mindfulness means paying attention to what’s happening right now, without judging it.

Work with the medical team to understand what recovery will look like so your hope is grounded in realistic expectations. Look for small signs of progress each day rather than focusing on the big picture when it feels overwhelming.

Find ways to honor your loved one’s life and create meaningful experiences during this difficult time. This might include playing their favorite music, sharing stories with nurses about who they are, or simply holding their hand in quiet moments.

Both the patient and their support system can be impacted by critical illness. Be aware that physical weakness, cloudy thinking, and changes in mood are common after ICU stays. Ask for help and know that recovery is possible with proper support.

If your loved one has periods when they’re more alert, try to be present during those times. Create a gentle morning routine – talk about the day ahead, share family news, or simply hold their hand while they’re awake.

Bring items that can make both you and your loved one more comfortable during long days. Consider items like phone chargers, comfortable clothes, favorite snacks, and things that help you feel more at home.

Discuss prognosis honestly with the medical team and understand what goals are most important for the time you have together. Consider addressing difficult topics like final wishes and legacy plans while you have time and support to honor your loved one’s preferences.

Getting better takes time – expect at least 1 week of recovery for every day you spent in the hospital. Track and celebrate your progress since progress is typically slower than anyone imagines, like marathon training – impossible to see day-to-day.

PCPs often do not have access to hospital records to easily get up to speed on details of the critical illness. Use worksheets to provide PCPs information about the patient’s hospital and rehabilitation stay.

Use your optimism and energy to tackle practical aspects of recovery planning with focus and determination. Hope is a powerful motivator for handling complex discharge arrangements, researching rehabilitation options, and preparing your home.

Continue the habits that helped you get here as you transition home and continue healing. Caring for yourself is essential – for your own sake, for the ICU survivor in your life, and for all the other people who care about you.

Most organizations have ICU survivors and family caregivers in leadership positions. They are always evolving to build better communities and meet more needs. Consider financial support, legal services, employment issues, and respite services.

Request printed materials about your loved one’s condition and ask doctors to write down key points. Document important information but give yourself permission to close the laptop and be present. Balance staying informed with staying connected.

Address important legal and financial matters like wills, power of attorney, and advance directives while you have time and support. Gather critical financial information and ensure family members know where important documents are located.

After a stay in critical care, your loved one may need to move to a Skilled Nursing Facility for further care and rehabilitation. Bring photos of your home to help staff practice relevant activities and assist in choosing appropriate equipment for home use.

Connect with your medical team as people, not just providers. If a doctor or nurse makes you feel seen, stick with them. Personal connections lead to better communication and care. Master asking better questions and building relationships with staff.