J Korean Acad Nurs.  2008 Jun;38(3):353-362. 10.4040/jkan.2008.38.3.353.

Concept Analysis of Relocation Stress: Focusing on Patients Transferred from Intensive Care Unit to General Ward

• Son YJ
• Hong SK
• Jun EY

• KMID: 1083661
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.3.353

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze and clarify the meaning of the concept for relocation stress -focusing on patients transferred from an intensive care unit to a general ward.
METHODS
This study used Walker and Avant's process of concept analysis.
RESULTS
Relocation stress can be defined by these attributes as follows: 1) involuntary decision about relocation, 2) moving from a familiar and safe environment to an unfamiliar one, 3) broken relationship of safety and familiarity, 4) physiological and psychosocial change after relocation. The antecedents of relocation stress consisted of these facts: 1) preparation degrees of transfer from the intensive care unit to a general ward, 2) pertinence of the information related to the transfer process, 3) change of major caregivers, 4) change in numbers of monitoring devices, 5) change in the level of self-care. There are consequences occurring as a result of relocation stress: 1) decrease in patients' quality of life, 2) decrease in coping capacity, 3) loss of control.
CONCLUSION
Relocation stress is a core concept in intensive nursing care. Using this concept will contribute to continuity of intensive nursing care.

Keyword

Intensive Care Unit; Relocation Stress; Concept Analysis

MeSH Terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Caregivers
Concept Formation
Humans
*Intensive Care Units
*Patient Transfer
Patients' Rooms
*Stress, Psychological

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