An experienced intensive care unit (ICU) nurse is resisting the implementation of telehealth in the ICU because "we each only have one or two patients and are always available." What action by the manager is best?

Question

a. Explain how telehealth can reduce specific adverse events in ICU patients.
b. Provide education on the advantages of telehealth in the ICU.
c. Remind the staff that telehealth is part of their health care environment.
d. Visit with the nurse and ask why the nurse is so against telehealth.

Answer 1

A
The manager should explain specific details of how telehealth can improve outcomes for ICU patients. For example, the use of electronic intensive care units (e-ICUs) helps to prevent untoward outcomes, such as reintubation or unplanned extubation, and improves patient outcomes by recognizing changes in patient trends. These events are significant for this nurse's patient population.
Providing education is a good intervention, but this option is too vague to be the best choice for the manager. The manager should discuss specific events related to the ICU population.
Reminding the staff of policies and procedures is always an appropriate action, but without the nurse's "buy-in" of the process, this information alone will not encourage the nurse to support the system.
Asking "why" questions is a nontherapeutic communication technique that often puts people on the defensive.