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. 2024 Dec;19(1):2348891.
doi: 10.1080/17482631.2024.2348891. Epub 2024 May 9.

Caring touch as communication in intensive care nursing: a qualitative study

Lise Sandnes  1 , Lisbeth Uhrenfeldt  2   3
Affiliations

Caring touch as communication in intensive care nursing: a qualitative study

Lise Sandnes et al. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: This article describes intensive care nurses` experiences of using communicative caring touch as stroking the patient`s cheek or holding his hand. Our research question: "What do intensive care nurses communicate through caring touch?"

Methods: In this qualitative hermeneutically based study data from two intensive care units at Norwegian hospitals are analysed. Eight specialist nurses shared experiences through individual, semi-structured interviews.

Results: The main theme, Communicating safety and presence has four sub-themes: Amplified presence, Communicating security, trust and care, Creating and confirming relationships and Communicating openness to a deeper conversation. Communicative caring touch is offered from the nurse due to the patient`s needs. Caring touch communicates person-centred care, invites to relationship while respecting the patient's dignity as a fellow human being. Caring touch conveys a human initiative in the highly technology environment.

Conclusion: Caring touch is the silent way to communicate care, hope, strength and humanity to critical sick patients. This article provides evidence for a common, but poorly described phenomenon in intensive care nursing.

Keywords: Intensive care nursing; caring science; caring touch; communication; patient-centred.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Interconnection between context, main theme and Sub-themes with examples from everyday ICN tasks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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