Nurses' experiences of ICU diaries following implementation of national recommendations for diaries in intensive care units: A quality improvement project.

Objectives: To evaluate critical care nurses' experiences of ICU diaries following the implementation of national recommendations for the use of diaries for critically ill patients.

Design: A quality improvement project describing the development and implementation of national recommendations (2011), as well as the assessment of the use of diaries in intensive care nursing practice (2014).

Setting: Norwegian intensive care units (ICUs).

An act of caring - patient diaries in Norwegian intensive care units.

Aim: The aim of this study was to obtain more knowledge about the background, extent and implementation of diaries in Norwegian intensive care units (ICUs) providing mechanical ventilation to adult patients.

Background: The growing understanding of long-term consequences of intensive care therapy has compelled nurses to introduce patient diaries to prevent problems after discharge from ICU. Research on this practice is limited.