Occupational therapy (OT) administered within the intensive care unit (ICU) can assist with managing the impact that an ICU stay can have on patient outcomes. The ICU environment and patient acuity is becoming increasingly complex. Leadership behavior has been explored within the ICU to positively impact patient and staff outcomes and promote safety, although research on OT informal leadership skills within the ICU are limited. This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to explore the leadership skills and behaviors of experienced occupational therapists practicing in the high complexity environment of the ICU through the central research question: What are the perspectives of occupational therapists on the skills and behaviors utilized to promote leadership in the ICU? There were two secondary research questions to support the aim: What decision-making and collaboration skills are present among occupational therapists in the ICU? And What has shaped the skills and success of experienced occupational therapists in the ICU?
