Waiting: The experience of persons in a critical care waiting room

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to discover the essences of the experience of waiting, to provide new knowledge about what it is like to wait, and to contribute to nursing knowledge. Participants were 12 persons who were family members or friends of persons in an adult critical care unit. The Parse research method was used to answer the research question: What is the structure of the lived experience of waiting? The central ®nding of this study was this structure: The lived experience of waiting is a vigilant attentiveness surfacing amid an ambiguous turbulent lull as contentment emerges with uplifting engagements. The structure is discussed in relation to nursing knowledge and in relation to how it can inform future research and practice.

Family satisfaction in the intensive care unit: what makes the difference?

“…Family members left alone in a waiting room may experience ''the emotional hell of waiting'' [37]. With no or fewer waiting rooms, next of kin may be admitted sooner to the patient's bed.…”

Family members’ experiences of the intensive care unit waiting room

“…Being in close proximity provided comfort in knowing one could ‘peek in’ at their relative and receive information through face‐to‐face communication at any time. Bournes and Mitchell (2002) found that family members talked about ‘not wanting to go too far away – just in case’ and ‘being there to see that he is still breathing’.…”

Feeling Unsure

“…The core concept wavering irresolutely with discerning ponderings was not explicitly described in the extant literature on uncertainty, unsureness, and feeling unsure, but was consistent with some ideas discussed by various authors (Bournes & Mitchell, 2002;Bunkers, 2007;Hilton, 1988;Mishel, 1990;Morse & Penrod, 1999;Morrow, 2006;Penrod, 2007).…”