Living a nightmare: family experiences of waiting following neurological crisis.

This study examined the waiting experiences of 12 families following a sudden unexpected neurological intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization. Using a phenomenological approach, family experiences were collected and analyzed. The major themes of uncertainty and searching for meaning depict the lifeworld of family waiting during critical illness. By understanding and entering a family's experience of waiting, ICU nurses can have a pivotal role in empowering families.