Identifying cues of distorted memories in intensive care by focus group interview of nurses

AIM: To determine cues to identify intensive care unit patients with distorted memories and related practices. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: Twenty nurses were included in semi‐structured focus groups. Qualitative content analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Cues and nursing practices related to distorted memories emerged under the following categories: “Get to know daily life before admission,” “Facial expressions and behaviour are different from usual,” “Pay close attention to the treatment outcome,” “Notice it after the fact,” “Sharing patients’ intensive care unit experiences” and “Creates a new life.” Nurses tried to detect distorted memories by observing the patients' facial expressions, medication effects and delirium presence during their normal lives and treatments, while trying to understand the patients' intensive care unit experiences and provide care that promotes autonomous living. This study emphasizes the importance of support for reconstructing ordinary life through communication and rehabilitation, in addition to support for medical care for distorted memories.