Critical Care Visitation

Abstract

Family member visitation in the intensive care unit setting should be flexible and open. This may include tailoring a plan on admission with the family to allow open access to the patient during times when they are most available; thus, each family has a plan that suits its unique dynamics.

Open visitation and nurse job satisfaction: An integrative review

“…Despite the many benefits, nurses continue to oppose open visitation due to the negative affects on their workflow and environment. ICU nurses report that increased family presence interferes with delivery of care and causes disorganisation (Soury‐Lavergne, ; Hart, Hardin, Townsend, & Mahrle‐Henson, ; Kean & Mitchell, ; Mutair et al., ; Athanasiou et al., ; Cappellini, Bambi, Lucchini, & Milanesio, ; Chapman et al., ; Schofield, ). Critical care nurses work in life and death situations; therefore, it is important for them to remain in control of their practice.…”

“…Forty‐nine per cent of nurses are dissatisfied with open visitation due to the negative affects on their workflow and environment (Hart et al., ). Among nurses not working in open visitation units, 23% did not think extending hours would be beneficial for families or patients, 29% considered it unhelpful, 58% saw no reason to extend hours and 75% of nurses did not want to extend hours (Soury‐Lavergne, ).…”

“…Hart et al. () reported that using ICU nurses as family care specialists within a family centred care programme lightened nurses’ workload. McConnell and Moroney () also reduced the pressure placed on ICU nurses by developing a relative caregiver specialist who educated and addressed family needs.…”

“…Eighty-one per cent of nurses reported that family assistance with ADLs did not cause a significant disturbance in their routine (Soury-Lavergne, 2011;Kean & Mitchell, 2013;Chapman et al, 2016) (Chapman et al, 2016). Interruptions in care may occur when nurses must walk around family members to access the patient, there is a constant flow of visitors, and when care is delayed to allow time for visitation (Hart et al, 2013;Kean & Mitchell, 2013). Nurses had difficulty performing complex care while simultaneously involving family, and at times could barely manage critical care issues with visitors present (Mutair et al, 2013;McConnell & Moroney, 2014).…”

Managing Visitors During the Hospital Stay: The Experience of Family Caregivers of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Despite the plethora of research on general hospital visitation (Chapman et al, 2016; Clay & Parsh, 2014; Hart, Hardin, Townsend, Ramsey, & Mahrle-Henson, 2013), gaps in knowledge exist because most literature only focuses on issues such as frequency and duration of visitors, and limited literature is available on patients with TBI. First, much of the literature focuses on visits to the patient while in critical care.…”