Risvegliarsi in terapia intensiva. La comunicazione, benessere per il paziente e competenza per l’infermiere

Introduction: it’s important to establish an effective communicative relationship to assist a patient in intensive care unit, especially if he is intubated and conscious. Nurses must therefore know very well what the patient’s subjective experiences may be, since these experiences become one of the main sources of the communicative interaction as expression of an effective assistance. Problem: a proper communication helps minimize stress both for the patient and for the nurse. Nurses must therefore build complex relational skills and enhance them in different educational levels. This paper describes an educational experience aimed at 30 master's degree in nursing and midwifery’s students. Starting from the experience of an ICU patient’s diary, targeted activities were carried out about reflexive and experiential learning. Discussion: The analysis of qualitative and narrative contents of ilness stories can help the enhancement of a new sensitivity in the relationship with the patients. During the trining sessions students were invited to write their personal thoughts and their analysis of the implication for the professional practice. Conclusion: a high-profile education in critical care nursing must therefore be focused on the acquisition of highly technical skills along with the relational ones besides the deep understanding of the subjective experience of patients, because nurses cannot ignore patient’s needs, even if unexpressed or poorly expressed.