A critical pathway for meeting the needs of families of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Family members of patients recovering from severe traumatic brain injuries have needs that are best met through early assessment and proactive intervention. A critical pathway addressing the needs of families during the acute and postacute phases of hospitalization was developed and implemented in the neuroscience intensive care and step-down units of a university hospital. A team of 10 neurosurgical nurses used and evaluated the program.