Meeting the information and psychosocial support needs of surgical patients who have been in intensive care can contribute significantly to their recovery. In this article, the author examines the nursing opportunities for meeting these needs and suggests how they can be addressed

Fulfilling patients’ information needs has long been acknowledged as an important factor in assisting recovery and reducing anxiety (Boore 1978, Hayward 1975). Most authors who support this measure recommend that patients should receive information either at a pre-admission clinic or on admission to the ward. This allows them to absorb the information fully and ask questions before the operation takes place (Martin 1996). According to Ridgeway and Mathews (1982), the type of information given relates to a range of issues including surgical schedule, analgesia and equipment expected post-surgery, and might also include a pre-operative visit from ward or theatre staff (Baldwin 1993).