all the symptoms associated with the syndrome. care can be sought from a variety of professionals, including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, clinical social workers trained in medical social work, psychiatrists and psychologists. in addition, there is a growing trend of dedicated follow-up clinics for icu patients that show some promise for recognizing and triaging patients. they often offer support groups for patients and families affected by pics and pics-f. patients and caregivers should look for signs and symptoms associated with pics or pics-f including muscle weakness, fatigue, trouble with daily activities, memory or thinking problems, anxiety and depression, or nightmares and unwanted memories after leaving the icu. if these symptoms are recognized, consulting a primary care doctor or other caregiver can help. many other specialists can be enlisted to help patients recover including occupational or physical therapists, dietitians, medically trained clinical social workers, psychiatrists or psychologists, and speech therapists. patients and families who have questions or concerns regarding pics or pics-f should refer to their local hospital and icu for available resources. holistic understanding the original definition of pics, including impairment to physical, mental, and cognitive health, is focused on physical and biological health. however, the impairments faced by survivors of critical illness extend beyond biomedical health, as evidenced by impairment to social health and employment. a patient's social and economic conditions are considered to be social determinants of health and can affect their daily life, well-being, and health. for example, an individual with pics may find themselves physically recovered with lasting deficits in memory and concentration (cognitive impairment), an inability to return to work (employment impairment), and an inability to participant in social situations (social impairment). their social impairment may damage their social support system. unemployment could lead to stress, financial issues, and poor mental health. social and employment impairment could significantly alter their life. by defining pics holistically, to include the five impairments previously outlined, research and education can be catered towards preventing, mitigating, or resolving these issues. a holistic understanding of pics can assist in educating patients and families on life after critical illness. for example, the social isolation and vulnerability felt by many survivors of critical illness, could be mitigated through educating patients on pics social impairment and providing appropriate resources. education can empower patients and families. by providing comprehensive education on pics impairments, icu patients and families will be aware of symptoms to monitor for post-discharge and understand resources are available as needed. in a uk study, pics patients reported not accessing mental health resources they needed due to lack of education. while this may be reflective of mental health stigma, it also demonstrates the important role education can play in a pics patient's recovery. informed patients and families have a better opportunity to advocate for themselves, access appropriate resources, and be involved in their care. nursing the basic nursing assessment requires a holistic and patient-centered perspective. this is one reason nurses are suited to holistically assess patients for pics and create individualized care plans. pics is not a medical diagnosis, but rather a syndrome. as such, nurses can assess patients for pics impairments, identify their goals for recovery, and provide appropriate resources or referrals. these nursing actions can take place at any point in the patient's recovery. for example, the icu nurse may put in a long-term disability referral for a patient who is likely to survive icu with new physical deficits. furthermore, a home care nurse could suggest a peer-support group for a pics patient with new social dysfunctions. nurses are in an opportune position to assist pics patients with their holistic needs and help them navigate the healthcare system. pics encompasses the impairment to physical, mental, cognitive, employment, and social health following critical illness. the understanding of pics has evolved from its original, biomedical definition. a holistic perspective is required for pics in order to recognize the full range of impairments experienced after critical illness. nurses are equipped with a holistic and patient-centered perspective that is useful in the care, education, and research regarding pics. the comprehensive, holistic, and modern definition of pics can improve the care of critical illness survivors from this day forward.