Caring touch as communication in intensive care nursing: a qualitative study.

Purpose: This article describes intensive care nurses' experiences of using communicative caring touch as stroking the patient's cheek or holding his hand. Our research question: "What do intensive care nurses communicate through caring touch?" Methods: In this qualitative hermeneutically based study data from two intensive care units at Norwegian hospitals are analysed. Eight specialist nurses shared experiences through individual, semi-structured interviews. Results: The main theme, Communicating safety and presence has four sub-themes: Amplified presence, Communicating security, trust and care, Creating and confirming relationships and Communicating openness to a deeper conversation. Communicative caring touch is offered from the nurse due to the patient's needs. Caring touch communicates person-centred care, invites to relationship while respecting the patient's dignity as a fellow human being. Caring touch conveys a human initiative in the highly technology environment. Conclusion: Caring touch is the silent way to communicate care, hope, strength and humanity to critical sick patients. This article provides evidence for a common, but poorly described phenomenon in intensive care nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]