Final answer:
Nurses should expect parents of a patient unexpectedly admitted to the ICU post-surgery to experience stressors such as unfamiliar environment, disrupted routines, strange smells, privacy concerns, and inadequate knowledge of the patient's condition and hospital routines.
Step-by-step explanation:
When nurses speak with the parents of a patient like Ryan, who has just been admitted to the intensive care unit after abdominal surgery, they should expect various stressors to be affecting them. The stressors likely include an unfamiliar environment, disruption of the usual day-night routine, encountering strange smells, concerns about the provision of privacy, and dealing with inadequate knowledge of the patient's condition and routine within the hospital setting.
Parents or loved ones are usually unprepared for the sudden hospital environment filled with medical equipment, different personnel, and the intensity of care required in the ICU. Disturbances in the typical sleep-wake cycle because of constant monitoring and care, along with unexpected sounds and smells, can also be sources of stress. Additionally, there might be a lack of privacy due to constant medical supervision and procedures, leaving parents feeling uncomfortable. Out of all these, one of the most significant stressors is likely the inadequate knowledge about the patient's medical situation and the routines of the ICU, which can contribute to feelings of fear and helplessness.