visitor refuses to leave!!!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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hey all, don't wish to start the visitation thread again, but could use some advise on how to handle;

Had a closed head injury patient in the ICU last night, confused all day, pulling at ngt, pulse ox...on and on. Our day nurse let the family stay ALL day at the bedside, but warned them that during shift change and some time later they would need to step out. All is fine until night shift arrives and it is time for them to step out.

We're not talking hours here... we asked for 45 minutes to give report and assess the patient, give meds, you know the drill.

Family no longer agreeable, have very good intentions of only wanting to help maintain lines... which is very needed, but refused to leave to allow report and assessment. Wife states "I will not leave the room, you can't force me out, I will not leave him, I'm not a visitor, I'm his wife".

Well, I don't much care for her approach, but I agree that we need their help, the night nurse REFUSES to accept the assignment if I allow the wife to "camp out". I change the assignment and take the patient, let ONE person stay with him all night.

Turns out they were VERY helpful, and yes I needed them, but again, I don't mind the "camping out"

So, sorry so long. But what would you do if a family member flat out REFUSED to GO? There are many times where it is cleary not appropriate with a stable mable and they just want a slumber party.

PS... everyone is PISSED that I "gave in to the family". But Management will not back refusing to allow visitors to stay, our manager will override the nurse and allow it, which is why I never began to beat my head against the wall.

thanks all

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I work ER and we try to enforce visiting - to keep it to two per pt - but we bend the rules for a critically ill pt. I'll be honest here everyone - I have a son with severe asthma. When he has been admitted in the past - there aren't enough people in the world to pull me away from his bedside. When he is was in the military hospital in Korea - awaiting transfer to Hawaii - the nurses had absolutely no clue how to care for a pediatric pt. His care was abysmal!!!! I wouldn't let them take care of a dog!!!!

Also (and now I'm speaking about my own hospital) - we don't have enough nurses to adequately care for all these pts. If a family member is in ICU - then so am I!!!!

Lets be realistic!!

Yeah, I understand assessing a patient without the distraction of family lookie-lou's is a bare, but if it was a family member of mine - I wouldn't leave either. One of the reasons I became a nurse is to advocate for my family and friends when they are sick - INCLUDING watching treatment and meds from their caregivers.

Ignore the family and do your assessment. Any question and answer's you render document for the next staff to view.

"It's all about the patient"

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