This paper discusses families' experiences of their interactions when a relative is admitted unexpectedly to an Australian ICU. A grounded theory methodology was adopted for the study. Data was collected between 2009−2013, using in-depth interviews with 25 family members of 21 critically ill patients admitted to a metropolitan, tertiary-level ICU in Australia.

The findings reveal in-depth understanding of families' uncertainty in ICU. It suggests that ICU staff need to focus clinical interventions on reducing factors that heighten their uncertainty, while optimising strategies that help alleviate it. Families are facilitated to move beyond feelings of helplessness and loss of control, and cope better with their situation.

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