Document Type

Undergraduate Project

Date of Publication

3-1-2024

Professor's Name

Dr. Lori Dambaugh

Abstract

Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are hospital units designed to help care for patients who are critically ill. The ICU provides these patients with specialized medical and nursing care, enhanced monitoring, and multiple approaches to help physiologic organ support. These units handle severe, life-threatening medical cases (Marshal et al., 2017). Patients in these intensive care units experience a wide variety of changes which can contribute to their mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (Galderisi et al., 2015). One factor that contributes to patients' mental health is their support system, this includes but is not limited to family, friends, and co-workers. The visitation policies that ICUs have in place affects the patients’ ability to connect with their support systems which can overall impact the patients’ mental health, specifically their level of anxiety and depression.

Comments

Nursing 498H: Nursing Honors presentation

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Nursing Commons

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