Voices from the ICU: nursing students’ experiences of family involvement in patient care

Abstract

Aim: Our study investigates nursing students' experiences with family involvement in caring for ICU patients in Jordan. Background: The patient- and family-centred approach to patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU) has received global research attention. To date, no qualitative research has explored nursing students' experiences with family involvement in ICU patient care or identified contributing factors in the Middle East. Design: This study used a qualitative explorative approach. Methods: Twenty semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to allow nursing students to discuss the role and contributions of families in intensive care. Results: The analysis identified two key themes with subthemes. The first theme, Expertise Seeking, includes the Ranking of Information Sources and Barriers to Expertise Seeking, focusing on how families seek medical knowledge to care for loved ones and the challenges they encounter. The second theme, Family Involvement Behaviors, consists of Being a Bedside Carer and Dealing with the ICU Environment—highlighting the emotional support and bond maintained through bedside care and the difficulties of navigating the ICU. However, family involvement can sometimes be risky, as seen in misinformed comparisons between cases and resistance to treatment based on beliefs. Conclusions: The results from this research can help healthcare professionals, nurses, clinical instructors and educators create opportunities for family participation in ICU care, which could alleviate feelings of powerlessness and fear associated with the ICU environment. However, ongoing research is needed to inform the practice of family- and patient-centered care in the ICU. © 2025