Tool aids ICU clinicians in guiding care discussions, reducing burnout

Intensive care unit clinicians can use a new, evidence-based tool to have a structured, meaningful discussion with a patient and their family after a patient’s ICU admission. The tool is meant to provide clarity and align treatment with patient and family preferences, while reducing interventions clinicians perceive as contributing to unnecessary suffering or those unlikely to achieve meaningful recovery ─ factors contributing to nurse burnout and moral distress. The one-page clinician worksheet addresses six key elements, starting with the patient’s goals and values. It reviews lab results and clinical data, discussing whether the patient’s goals align with the clinical situation and evaluating the likelihood of benefit from interventions. The provider offers clear guidance on appropriate care goals, including restorative care, conservative management or comfort measures. An article on the tool appears in the December issue of Critical Care Nurse. (Newswise news release, 11/24/25)