How to make sure that your values and beliefs are known whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care
Published: Tue, 07/02/13
values whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care.
The sheer overwhelm and stress of the situation that you, your
Family and your critically ill loved one are in, makes it easy for
other people to talk at you and over you and you might feel that
health professionals in Intensive Care are not necessarily entering
into a dialogue, whilst your loved one is critically ill in
Intensive Care.
The fear of the unknown and the frustrations you are dealing with,
whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care makes it
very easy for you and for your family to be the victim of other
people's agenda. What's the hospital's agenda for your critically
ill loved one? What's the Intensive Care team's outlook on your
loved one's prognosis? Are they taking "the glass is half full" or
"the glass is half empty" approach? It's certainly a question you
need to ask yourself so that you, your Family and your critically
ill loved can then make sure that your values and your beliefs are
as equally important as the Intensive Care team's point of view.
You can also read a previous blog post about "What the doctors and
the nurses behaviour in Intensive Care is telling you about the
culture in a unit". Here is the link to the post
http://intensivecarehotline.com/?p=2314
It's therefore absolutely critical that you position yourself well
mentally, whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care
so that irrespective of the difficulty of the situation, your
values and your beliefs are known to the Intensive Care team.
Taking a strong position on your values and beliefs makes you,
your Family and your critically ill loved one less vulnerable.
And don't be afraid of speaking up. I see Families in Intensive
Care very often being intimidated by the "perceived power" of the
doctors and the nurses in Intensive Care and Families therefore
don't question. It's a big mistake and it holds you and your
family back from getting what you want. Don't think that just
because you are dealing with doctors and nurses in Intensive Care,
that you, your Family and your critically ill loved one are at the
mercy of the health professionals. Your values and beliefs are just
as equally important as the treatment your critically ill loved one
is receiving.
Sometimes, the situation you are presented with is not black and
white and the Intensive Care team might suggest one thing and you
and your Family want something else. In fact, your values and your
beliefs might be contrary to the traditional medical approach of
the Intensive Care team. Don't worry about it. 99% in life you
can't control, but take control of the 1% and you are powerful.
Again, don't be intimidated by the "perceived power" of the health
professionals in Intensive Care and speak up! You will be glad that
you did!
What are your thoughts? Leave your comments and questions on our
blog http://intensivecarehotline.com/?p=2523 ! And if you haven't
downloaded your instant impact report, do so now by entering your
email and you can improve your situation immediately! Follow this
link to get your FREE "INSTANT IMPACT" REPORT and enter your email
at http://intensivecarehotline.com
This is Patrik Hutzel from Intensive Care Hotline and I'll see you
again with another update next week!
Sincerely your Friend
Patrik Hutzel
If you haven't subscribed to our FREE membership sign up now and
you'll get your FREE "INSTANT IMPACT" Report where you'll learn how
to take control and charge of your and your critically ill loved
one's situation without being reliant on the doctors and the
nurses. You'll know exactly what questions to ask and you'll also
discover how you need to manage yourself and others so that you can
have real power and so that you can influence decision making!
With your FREE "INSTANT IMPACT" report you'll also get 4 other FREE
reports and the reports you will be receiving are
- The 6 questions you need to ask the most senior doctor in
Intensive Care
- 10 things you didn't know doctors and nurses are talking about
while you are not at the bedside with your loved one
- The 7 answers to the 7 most FAQ if your loved one is critically
ill in Intensive Care
- 9 myths of being a critically ill Patient in Intensive Care
You can email me your questions at
support@intensivecarehotline.com and I answer every single email
personally!
Patrik Hutzel
Critical Care Nurse
Founder& Editor
INTENSIVE CARE HOTLINE