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Society at http://www.americangeriatrics.org/files/documents/beers/2012Beers
Criteria_JAGS.pdf
■ Other environmental and psychological concerns include noise, lights and
color, sleep disturbances, lack of control, helplessness, hopelessness, spiri-
tual distress, stress, anxiety, and fear.
■ Nurses may suffer from alarm fatigue and moral distress.
■ Psychiatric emergencies in the ICU include agitated delirium and psychosis,
neuroleptic syndrome, serotonin syndrome, and psychiatric medication
overdose.
■ Palliative care protocols for the ICU are being developed.
Near-Death Experience
The experience of patients that they have glimpsed the afterlife when coming
close to death. These perceptions may include:
■ Seeing an intense light
■ Seeing angels or departed loved ones
■ Traveling through a tunnel
Out-of-Body Experience
The experience of being away from and overlooking one’s body. The patient
feels that the mind has separated from the body.

Family Needs of the Critical Care Patient
■ Relief of anxiety
■ Assurance of competent care
■ Timely access to the patient
■ Accurate and timely information about the patient’s condition and progno-
sis in easily understandable terms
■ Early notification of changes in the patient’s condition
■ Explanations regarding the environment, machinery, and monitoring
equipment
■ Honest answers to questions
■ Emotional support
■ Regard for the spiritual needs of the family and patient

BASICS