Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

The post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a set of symptoms, physical and / or psychic, that the person, having survived an admission in Intensive Care, could present; it is related to an increase in rehabilitation times, comorbidities and mortality, as well as an increase in the probability of hospital readmission and a marked decrease in quality of life. In order for this syndrome not to manifest itself, it is necessary to act using a main tool which is prevention, which requires a support: rehabilitation. Nurse’s role is fundamental in both phases and must be carried out within an organization of the process of personal care, which can be pursued and completed only thanks to the collaboration between the various professionals (intensivists, psychiatrists , physiotherapists, nurses, health and social workers, psychologists) who can be part of the multidisciplinary team. The nurse has specific skills in the field of intensive or post-intensive care, including providing assistance that is focused on the patient and family.
The aim of the paper is to investigate the post-intensive care syndrome’s issue, and the appropriate nursing skills for the prevention and / or management of the syndrome in the patient and in the family. The search for scientific evidence was conducted by reviewing the literature through the "CINAHL", "UpToDate" and "Medline" databases, entering the key words: "post intensive care syndrome", "PICS" AND "nursing", "PICS "AND" prevention "," PICS "AND" ICU diaries "," post-ICU "AND" quality of life "," survivors "AND" ICU "OR" intensive care unit "OR" critical illness”," ICU "AND "Rehabilitation after discharge". From the literature emerged how the syndrome can be easily manifested in ICU survivors and how some nursing competences and procedures are efficacious in PICS’ prevention and management.