Reconciling technologic and family care in critical-care nursing.

An interpretive phenomenologic study examined the practice of 130 nurses caring for families in critical care units (CCUs) using group interviews and multiple observations of practice. More than 100 examples of care of the family in CCU served as text for interpretation. A range of practice with families was observed, including practice focused on biomedical management of the patient and care that expertly incorporated the family while at the same time addressing the complex, technologic care of the critically ill. Reciprocal clinical knowledge transfer is needed among nurses at the bedside who are working in family practice and nurses who are skilled and knowledgeable about family interventions.