Why you should read this article:

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To recognise the challenges that families may experience when a loved one is admitted to critical care

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To identify the benefits of family-centred care and partnership working with patients’ families

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To consider how you could implement effective partnership working in your practice

When an individual becomes critically ill, they may be admitted to a critical care environment, which can have significant effects on themselves and their family. There is a wealth of literature exploring the experiences and priorities of patients and their families in relation to critical care, but also a lack of research on practical interventions that can improve care delivery in this setting. This article explores partnership working between nurses and patients’ families in the critical care environment and examines the barriers to, and facilitators of, family-centred care. The author draws on the literature to consider interventions that could enhance family-centred care in this setting, and makes some recommendations for practice.