Welcoming Families in Critical Care: A Scoping Review

AimsThis study aimed to map and analyze scientific evidence on nursing interventions to welcome the families of critically ill patients.DesignScoping review.Data SourcesIn January 2024, a comprehensive search of studies published between 2018 and 2024 was conducted across the following databases: PubMed; MEDLINE Complete; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; and MedicLatina.Review MethodsThe framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley guided the scoping review and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist.ResultsA total of 827 records were initially retrieved and screened. Twelve studies were selected for complete analysis. Nursing interventions for welcoming families of critically ill patients fall into four categories: information provision, emotional support, unit environment adaptation, and family involvement.ConclusionWelcoming families provides a valuable opportunity for early identification of their needs, enabling the establishment of a therapeutic relationship and tailored interventions that support family-centred care.ImpactThis study highlights the importance of structured nursing interventions in welcoming families to intensive care settings. By addressing families` needs, these interventions contribute to improved emotional stability, family functioning, and potentially better outcomes for critically ill patients.