The intensive care unit (ICU) atmosphere can be very draining on one’s emotions. Post-intensive care syndrome refers to the physical and mental health problems that patients and their loved ones may face years after receiving post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Stress in like this might increase the rate of employee turnover and burnout in the workplace in Montreal’s intensive care units (ICUs), university students donate their time through an initiative called the ICU Bridge Program (ICUBP), which aims to reduce the emotional strain on patients, their loved ones, and medical personnel.
Volunteers in the Intensive Care Unit Bereavement Program (ICUBP) assist medical professionals by providing patient and family orientation, using effective communication skills to ease patients’ and families’ fears and anxiety. Patients who do not have friends and/or family members to visit them would benefit from the presence of volunteer visitors. In addition, students are allowed to shadow interdisciplinary teams, expanding their knowledge of and comfort in an emergency medical setting and strengthening their communication skills.
Internal student-designed surveys are issued annually to staff and volunteers to reevaluate the program’s procedures and impact. The program’s effects on intensive care unit (ICU) patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers should be investigated.
Source: ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-022-04209-4
