The need for intensive care units has become well recognized in recent years. The advantages provided are obvious. It is also known that an intensive care unit can cause patients and family to manifest signs of anxiety and fear. By giving the patient certain information about what is going to happen to him, his fears and anxiety about his intended intensive care experience will decrease. The purpose of this study is to determine the type of information patients scheduled for a surgical intensive care unit want to be told prior to going to the specialized unit.