I was Told not to Touch My Dad while in an Induced Coma and on a Ventilator in ICU?
Published: Thu, 09/12/24
Updated: Thu, 09/12/24
Today's article is about, "I was Told not to Touch My Dad while in an Induced Coma and on a Ventilator in ICU?"
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Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com with another quick tip for families in intensive care.
So, I had an email from Tom who says, “My dad’s been in ICU for the last three days in an induced coma and I was told not to touch my dad while he’s in an induced coma. I don’t feel comfortable with that because I do believe that touching my dad will help him recover. What are your thoughts?” Well, Tom, I have some thoughts on this, of course. After having worked in intensive care for over 20 years in three different countries where I have also worked as a nurse unit manager for over 5 years, I do believe that touching a patient while in an induced coma is a good idea and talking to them is a good idea.
Now, granted all of that it has to be safe. Some patients can get agitated when you talk to them during an induced coma, and they are at risk of self-harming themselves. So, it has to be put in perspective. But by the same token, holding their hand, and talking calmly to them, I do believe is a good idea.
You have some patients reporting after an induced coma, “Oh, I don’t remember much, but I do remember my son, my daughter, my mom, my dad, my spouse, whatever to be there. They were holding my hand, and they were talking to me comforting me.” So, I do believe it’s a good idea doing that. It just has to be safe, and it can’t be to the detriment of a patient. You can’t be fumbling around with linesand tubes because that could potentially put your dad at risk. But assuming your dad is calm when you’re doing that, then I think that’s a very good idea.
So, some ICUs can be very regimented. I also consider that to be very old-fashioned. I do believe in this day and age, it’s up to the nurse on the bedside to make it safe for you, to sit down next to your dad and talk to them and hold their hand and that should not be a big deal by any means. Again, assuming your dad is calm throughout all of this.
Especially when patients are waking up, I do believe it’s very, very important to have family members there that can be with them. It’s a very scary and daunting experience coming out of an induced coma. You can’t talk, you don’t know what’s happened, and having a family member there can be very comforting, and touching them, and so forth.
So, that is my quick tip for today. I hope that helps.
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Thanks for watching.
This is Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com and I will talk to you in a few days.
Take care for now.
Your Friend
Patrik Hutzel
Critical Care Nurse
Founder& Editor
INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM
INTENSIVE CARE HOTLINE
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