Dedicated to my daughter, Lisa Marie Herzog and all the children
who visit family in the Intensive care unit.
Introduction
The purpose of family or friends visiting the intensive care unit is
twofold:
- to reduce or alleviate the visitors' fears, and
- for the visitor to comfort and support the patient.
As an RN working in an intensive care unit, I have seen the faces of visitors
who enter the environment to visit friends and/or family members. The visitors
become frightened by the unfamiliar equipment, noises, and smells. This
unfamiliarity increases their fear and anxiety. While ICU equipment is scary,
it is necessary for the patient's recovery. It is the hopes of this author
that with an understanding of the purpose and need for the equipment, the
visitor and patient will have a better ICU experience.
This program is an attempt to provide the public with the most basic
information about some of the equipment used in intensive care units.
While the equipment may vary from unit to unit and hospital to hospital,
the purpose of the equipment is the same - ventilators help patients breathe,
IV pumps deliver fluids.
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