Although more patients are surviving illness that requires critical care, little is known about the impact of the critical care experience on patients as they recall it. In this study we describe 59 patients' recollections of the critical care experience within 24 to 48 hours after transfer from the unit. Responding to an open-ended series of questions, patients accurately identified why they were admitted to critical care units. Actions related to observations, technical care, alleviation of concerns, and self-care promotion were recalled by patients. Nurses were the persons most frequently associated with such actions. In contrast, physicians were most frequently cited as the source of information about their health condition. Almost half of the patients who were willing and able to be interviewed described the impact of the experience as positive or neutral. Pain and sleeplessness were the major problems identified by patients.