Exploring PICS Communication Among ICU Nurses: Gaps in Awareness and Practice

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

11:05 AM - 12:00 PM Central Time

Location: Connections Central Theater 1

SS

Shu Fen Siao, MSN, RN (she/her/hers)

Taiwan (Republic of China)

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
Binnie You, PhD, MSN, RN

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
Matthew F. Mart, MD, MSCI

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee

Disclosure information not submitted.
TG

Timothy Girard, MD, MSc

Physician
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Disclosure information not submitted.
Lauren E. Ferrante, MD, MHS (she/her/hers)

Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut

Disclosure information not submitted.
RO

Robert L. Owens, MD

Professor
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

Disclosure information not submitted.
Nathan Brummel, MD, MSCI

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Disclosure information not submitted.
CS

Carla M. Sevin, MD (she/her/hers)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Disclosure information not submitted.
PP

Pratik Pandharipande, MD, FCCM

Professor
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Disclosure information not submitted.
TE

Tom Elasy, MD, MPH

Professor
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

Disclosure information not submitted.
E. Wesley Wes Ely, MD, MPH, FCCM

Vanderbilt University

Disclosure information not submitted.
LB

Leanne Boehm, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC (she/her/hers)

Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University, Tennessee

Disclosure information not submitted.
MR

Mark L. Rolfsen, MD

Clinical Fellow
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nashville, TN;Critical Illness, Brain dysfunction, and Survivorship (CIBS) Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) affects many critical illness survivors, yet little is known about ICU nurses' knowledge of PICS or their communication practices with patients and families. This study characterized ICU nurse knowledge of PICS and described self-reported PICS communication practices with patients and family members.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of nurse data from an online multidisciplinary survey. A convenience sample of ICU providers was recruited via ICU leader email invite distributed at 9 geographically diverse U.S. institutions from February 2024 to March 2025. The investigator-developed survey was created with input from ICU providers and qualitative researchers to ensure content validity and clarity. Responses were anonymous, and distribution precluded response rate calculation. Nurse demographics, PICS awareness, communication practices, and confidence levels were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Results: Of 395 respondents, 205 were ICU nurses, and 196 were complete for analysis. There was a notable lack of awareness, as 43% of nurses had never heard of PICS. Less than a third reported counseling patients or families about any new or worsening impairment following discharge (regardless of the term PICS) at least half the time or never. When asked about specific impairments, about 1 in 4 nurses reported discussing the possibility of cognitive or mental health impairment at least half the time (25% and 23% of nurses, respectively). Less than a third felt ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ when asked about their confidence in answering PICS-related questions. Nurses most often identified physicians or advanced practice providers as responsible for PICS communication (39%), but 40% reported that no one is responsible for PICS communication in their ICU. Less than half of nurses ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ PICS communication was important in the ICU.

Conclusions: The study reveals gaps in ICU nurse PICS awareness, confidence, and communication. The findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to strengthen ICU nurses’ PICS awareness, provided role clarity for PICS communication, and enhanced institutional support, ultimately improving PICS communication in clinical practice.