Critical care nurses' experiences of helicopter transfers.
Nursing in Critical Care · 2013-11-14 · Qualitative study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intensive care is conducted in intensive care units (ICUs), and also during the transportation of critically ill people. AIM: The aim of the study was to describe critical care nurses' (CCNs) experiences of nursing critically ill patients during helicopter transport. PARTICIPANTS: Seven CCNs, five women and two men participated in this study. DESIGN: Seven participants from two centres in Sweden were recruited. The design uses an inductive, qualitative approach with data collected by means of qualitative interviews with seven CCNs. METHODS: The interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to qualitative thematic content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in one theme which is safe nursing care, but sometimes feeling afraid and six categories as follows: experiencing the care environment as an ICU with limited space; a loud environment complicates communication; planning and checking to minimize risks; experience and good co-operation; facing the dilemma of allowing relatives to accompany the patient or not; feeling the patient's and their own fear. CONCLUSION: CCNs plan for the transportation and control of patients to improve patient safety, but can sometimes feel afraid. Good co-operation is necessary. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The possibilities for CCNs to provide effective nursing care in helicopters are good, although in some cases limited by the environmental conditions.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Helicopter & air ambulance · Ambulance & prehospital nurses · Clinician perspective · Communication & handover · Teamwork & human factors
Related articles
- Experience of physician and nurse specialists in Sweden undertaking long distance aeromedical transportation of critically ill patients: A qualitative study. (Int Emerg Nurs, 2019)
- [Flight nurses' comprehension about their role in the multiprofesional team of aero-medical transport]. (Rev Bras Enferm, 2012)
- Flight Nurses' Experiences With Interhospital Transportation of Critically Ill Patients. (J Clin Nurs, 2026)
- Clinicians' experience of barriers and facilitators to care delivery of an extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation service for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a qualitative survey. (Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med, 2024)
- Nursing competencies in aeromedical transport in the Brazilian Air Force: a descriptive study. (Rev Esc Enferm USP, 2024)
- Expectations of patients, nurses and physicians in geriatric nursing home emergencies. (Emerg Med J, 2011)