Date of Conferral
5-30-2025
Date of Award
May 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Nursing
Advisor
Leslie Hussey
Abstract
Unconscious patients in critical care units are compromised in their ability to communicate. It is vital that intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ communication with unconscious patients be as effective as possible to address patients’ needs and help them in their suffering. Improving communication deepens the dignity and humanity of unconscious patients, supports families, and contributes to more ethical and holistic ICU care. The purpose of this basic qualitative study, guided by Watson’s human caring theory, was to explore the perceptions and experiences of ICU nurses of patient-centered communication with unconscious patients. Twelve ICU nurses who worked in a large metropolitan city in the central region of Saudi Arabia were included; they held a bachelor’s degree in nursing, had at least 1 year of ICU experience, and had previous experience working with unconscious patients. They were interviewed using audio recording. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: (a) preserving human dignity and respect, (b) care fatigue, and (c) nurses’ belief systems. Recommendations for future research include exploring how to provide emotional and psychological support for ICU nurses and include a more diverse group of nurses in multiple ICUs across varied geographical regions. Understanding factors affecting nurses’ communication with unconscious patients will help formulate strategies to improve communication and the quality of care for unconscious patients, which affects positive social change.
Recommended Citation
Suleiman, Afnan Suleiman, "Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Perceptions of Communication With Unconscious Patients" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17894.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17894
