Trabajo social y la importancia de la comunicación con familiares de pacientes admitidos a la unidad de cuidados intensivos = Social work and the importance of communication with the families of patients admitted to the intensive care unit

Abstract

Este artículo emerge de la experiencia del autor con familiares de pacientes admitidos a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). La investigación de las necesidades de los familiares y la intensa emoción generada durante la entrevista la cual es tener la oportunidad de poder expresar sus emociones acerca de la experiencia de tener a un ser querido en la UCI es terapéutico. Para otros quiere decir angustia, ansiedad, depresión, miedo, cólera y desesperación a manera que expresan los eventos que son el resultado de una situación de incertidumbre y temor. A pesar de tener experiencia en intervención en crisis, al comienzo el autor no estuvo preparado para la intensidad de sentimientos y emociones que son demostrados por los familiares en la UCI. El autor descubre que esta clase de sufrimientos son emocionalmente extenuantes para todos los participantes (médicos, enfermeros, trabajadores sociales, pacientes y familiares). Temas de ética y metodología que surgen como resultado de la intervención incluyen: a) el generar situaciones que requieren intervención psicoterapéutica; b) el impacto de sentirse envuelto emocionalmente. El tema de apartarse de una intensa entrevista emocional con frecuencia lo deja a uno con un sentido de “dejar algo sin terminar.”__________________________________________________This article is the result of this author’s experience with families of patients who are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Investigation of the needs of families and the intensity of emotions that evolves during the course of the interview that for some is the opportunity to be able to talk and express their feelings about their experience of having a loved one admitted to the ICU is therapeutic; for others it means anxiety, depression and frustration by the way they express their feelings that are the result of a serious illness of a loved one. Even though the author is experienced in crisis intervention, he was not ready for the intensity of emotions that are shown by many of the families when he was first was assigned to the ICU. The author discovered that this type of suffering is emotionally exhausting. Topics of ethics and methodology that arise as a result of the intervention includes: situations that require therapeutic intervention. b) the impact of feeling emotionally involved. The theme of separation from an intense interview frequently leaves us with a sense of “leaving something with out finishing it.”Good communication not only depends on the social worker but also fron those who attend and care for the patients. Language could be ambivalent falling into honest misunderstandings as the needs of patients and their family could not always be the same. This could make for the social worker to feel “unconfortable”when trying to meet the needs of patients and their families.The author is a Social Worker at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center. Bronx, New York. USA