Prepare for the ICU
For families walking into an intensive care unit.
It's okay to feel nervous. Nervous and prepared is a good place to be.
Your preparation progress
0 of 50 steps · saved on this device
Adds the event plus preparation reminders at two weeks, one week, two days, and the day before.
Overview
The ICU is loud, bright, and full of equipment. Most of what you hear is routine. This guide is written mostly for the family member standing at the bedside trying to understand what is happening.
What to expect
- Monitors and alarms that sound constantly — most are not emergencies
- A high nurse-to-patient ratio and frequent checks
- Daily rounds where the plan is discussed
- Sedation, tubes, and lines that look frightening and are usually temporary
Questions to ask
What is the goal of care today?
What are we watching for, and what would count as improvement?
May I be present for rounds?
Many ICUs welcome one family member at rounds — ask.
What decisions might we be asked to make, and when?
In plain language, what is happening and why is it recommended now?
Plain language is your right. Ask again if the answer is technical.
What are my options, including waiting or doing nothing?
How will this change what I can do day to day, and for how long?
What should I do to prepare?
Who do I call with questions, and what number do I use after hours?
What would make you want to see me sooner?
This turns vague worry into a clear trigger for calling.
Interactive checklists
Check items off as you go. Progress is saved on this device so you can continue later.
Private to this device. Included when you print, export, or save to your Health Binder.
For caregivers and family
What caregivers can expect
- Information arriving in fragments
- Being asked to make decisions with incomplete answers
- Exhaustion that sneaks up on you
How caregivers can help
- Keep one notebook and one designated family spokesperson
- Ask for a family meeting when the picture is unclear
- Speak and touch — familiar voices matter, even under sedation
- Go home and sleep; ask the nurse when it is safest to step away
Questions caregivers should ask
- What is the best number and time to call for an update?
- Who is the ICU attending this week?
- Can we schedule a family meeting with the whole team?
Recovery and what happens next
Before admission
Paperwork, packing, and home coverage.
- · Confirm authorization
- · Pack a small bag
- · Arrange pets, children, and mail
During the stay
Track the plan each day.
- · Ask for the daily plan
- · Note who is leading your care
- · Ask what has to happen before going home
Discharge day
Leave with clarity, not a stack of paper.
- · Medication reconciliation
- · Written instructions read back aloud
- · Follow-up appointment scheduled
First week home
The riskiest week. Watch and rest.
- · Fill prescriptions
- · Attend or confirm follow-up
- · Track symptoms daily
Watch for: Fever, chills, or a wound that becomes red, warm, swollen, or leaks fluid; Pain that keeps getting worse instead of slowly better; New confusion, dizziness, or fainting; Nausea or vomiting that stops you from keeping fluids down
Risks and warning signs
Possible risks to ask about
- Every procedure and medicine carries some risk — ask for yours in numbers, not adjectives
- Reactions to medicines, contrast, or anesthesia
- Infection
- Delays or the need for a repeat visit
Warning signs — call your clinician
- · Fever, chills, or a wound that becomes red, warm, swollen, or leaks fluid
- · Pain that keeps getting worse instead of slowly better
- · New confusion, dizziness, or fainting
- · Nausea or vomiting that stops you from keeping fluids down
Red flags — seek emergency care
- · Trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- · Chest pain or pressure
- · Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- · Sudden weakness, facial droop, or trouble speaking
- · Signs of sepsis — fever with fast heart rate, confusion, clammy skin, or a feeling that something is very wrong
In an emergency, call 911. Do not wait for a call back.
Follow-up care
- Attend the follow-up within the window you were given
- Reconcile every medicine against the discharge list
- Ask for home health or therapy referrals to be confirmed
Frequently asked questions
Helpful resources
People preparing for this also read
Prepare Me is educational preparation support from Phoenix Health Compass. It does not diagnose, recommend treatment, or replace the guidance of your clinician. Checklists and notes stay on this device unless you save or share them yourself.