ICU

I have talked to two friends recently who've had scary and unfortunate experiences with family members in the ICU. It's a sobering conversation. The experiences of patients and their families in the ICU are rarely positive. It's a stressful time in an unfamiliar sterile environment with rules that don't seem to make sense. The thought of pain, suffering, and death take a toll on the caretakers. The vastness of the unknown coupled with the drought of overt compassion make this a period of intensity without reprieve.

In both cases, I felt almost obligated to apologize on behalf of my future profession for the unpleasant experiences of the ICU. The ICU is a place where the science of medicine really trumps the art of medicine; clinicians have adapted emotionally to the constancy of death and rarely realize that for every new patient and family member walking in, it is a really tough experience. I think as someone interested in critical care, I hope to remember these things and stimulate change. We cannot be complacent as we settle into roles already laid out for us. We need to constantly think about how things can and should be improved.