Covid 19 visitor restrictions

Susie2310 · May 17, 2020

1 hour ago, herring_RN said:
In The Hospital With Dementia: These Patients Need Their Caregivers
Andrea S. lived in a North Carolina hospital room with her mother for two and half weeks, finally leaving when her mother was discharged April 23, 2020. Her mom, who is 78 and has dementia, went into the emergency room in early April after suffering a stroke...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2020/04/28/dementia-hospital-patients-need-caregivers/#39515e4868be

Thank you for this very pertinent example. To be admitted to hospital today, patients usually have to be very sick. Additionally, many patients have multiple co-morbidities, extensive, complicated, medical histories, and take a number of medications, some of which are high risk medications. Elderly patients are at increased risk of experiencing delirium during even a very short hospital stay, which can mean the difference between a good outcome and a very bad outcome for a patient. With significantly decreased physiological reserves, elderly patients are highly vulnerable if they experience medication errors or other errors in care. They often need or will benefit greatly from the assistance a family member/significant other can provide when they are hospitalized.

Having a family member/significant other by the patient's bedside to look out for them and to be their advocate, to help them remain oriented, calm, and safe, and to encourage/facilitate their participation in the plan of care, is very important for the patient's physical and emotional wellbeing.

Many family members/significant others are involved in the patient's care at home, and have very good knowledge of the patient's medical problems, medical history, home medications/dosages, are used to helping the patient with their medical/health care, and are involved in appointments and discussions with the patient's physicians/health care team. They may also be the patient's legal representative under their Advance Directive and/or other legal authorizations.

rzyzzy · May 18, 2020

5 hours ago, Susie2310 said:
Thank you for this very pertinent example. To be admitted to hospital today, patients usually have to be very sick. Additionally, many patients have multiple co-morbidities, extensive, complicated, medical histories, and take a number of medications, some of which are high risk medications. Elderly patients are at increased risk of experiencing delirium during even a very short hospital stay, which can mean the difference between a good outcome and a very bad outcome for a patient. With significantly decreased physiological reserves, elderly patients are highly vulnerable if they experience medication errors or other errors in care. They often need or will benefit greatly from the assistance a family member/significant other can provide when they are hospitalized.
Having a family member/significant other by the patient's bedside to look out for them and to be their advocate, to help them remain oriented, calm, and safe, and to encourage/facilitate their participation in the plan of care, is very important for the patient's physical and emotional wellbeing.
Many family members/significant others are involved in the patient's care at home, and have very good knowledge of the patient's medical problems, medical history, home medications/dosages, are used to helping the patient with their medical/health care, and are involved in appointments and discussions with the patient's physicians/health care team. They may also be the patient's legal representative under their Advance Directive and/or other legal authorizations.

I doubt anyone will defend intentionally excluding family members from caring for and advocating for their patients care.

That said, anyone “in the trenches” can certainly provide lots of examples of the overbearing and uncivilized behavior that seems to be increasing in volume and frequency in our society. The average nurse working the floor doesn’t need a five page soliloquy about the virtues of having an advocate. We get it - we even preach it.

Susie2310 · May 18, 2020

29 minutes ago, rzyzzy said:
I doubt anyone will defend intentionally excluding family members from caring for and advocating for their patients care.

That said, anyone “in the trenches” can certainly provide lots of examples of the overbearing and uncivilized behavior that seems to be increasing in volume and frequency in our society. The average nurse working the floor doesn’t need a five page soliloquy about the virtues of having an advocate. We get it - we even preach it.

This thread is about the Covid-19 Visitor Restrictions. Are you aware of the current situation? Have you read the rest of the thread? Did you read the linked article? If you aren't interested in the topic I don't understand why you are participating in the thread.

rzyzzy · May 18, 2020

2 hours ago, Susie2310 said:
This thread is about the Covid-19 Visitor Restrictions. Are you aware of the current situation? Have you read the rest of the thread? Did you read the linked article? If you aren't interested in the topic I don't understand why you are participating in the thread.

Your posts almost suggest that you’re being paid by the word to express sentiments that are well known and not in dispute - whilst throwing plenty of shade towards first-line caregivers for being relieved that one of the side-effects of the covid restrictions is a *slight* reduction in the amount of abuse and disrespect dished out by families.

Delia37, MSN · May 18, 2020

Speaking strictly for myself, I welcome the respite of not having to deal with family in the unit. Currently working in a busy ICU with COVID patients. I do not need the extra stress of keeping an eye on visitors; already have enough on my plate.

Susie2310 · May 18, 2020

Can I suggest that those who want to express how they prefer not having to take the patient's family members/significant others - the patient's support system, into consideration at the patient's bedside, whether due to the stressors of the Covid-19 situation or other reasons, might like to find another avenue to do this. This thread is about the difficulties patients and their family members/significant others are experiencing due to the Covid-19 visitor restrictions, not about the reasons that some nurses perceive the Covid-19 visitor restrictions to be beneficial.

Delia37, MSN · May 19, 2020

LOL...Guessing you are not getting the validation you want to hear; Fair enough

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · May 20, 2020

While I agree with the other posters that there is some respite to the actual workers that it has provided since healthcare workers have been viewed by many as servants almost, I also understand of course it is putting stress on patients as well. I can’t imagine dying in the hospital, or even just being sick enough to be in the hospital, and not having someone there. BUT I also understand the reason it’s being done.

In pediatric world where I’m at, we are allowing one family member at the bedside. That still isn’t enough for some families who want to complain, but it’s more generous than what adult world is being provided.

Susie2310 · May 20, 2020

On 5/19/2020 at 1:23 AM, Delia37 said:
LOL...Guessing you are not getting the validation you want to hear; Fair enough

Thank you for your concern Delia37. I'm actually very happy with the thread. I've been able to make the points I wanted to make, and a number of people have provided very useful contributions, which I appreciate, and some people have kindly provided examples of points I have made. As of now the thread has received 954 views, and is still on the first page of the Disaster Preparation/Covid 19 section, so I don't feel it vanished into obscurity.

JKL33 · May 21, 2020

On 5/18/2020 at 9:44 AM, Susie2310 said:
Can I suggest that those who want to express how they prefer not having to take the patient's family members/significant others - the patient's support system, into consideration at the patient's bedside, whether due to the stressors of the Covid-19 situation or other reasons, might like to find another avenue to do this.

Please let us know who you are referring to. Who has said this?

9 hours ago, Susie2310 said:
I've been able to make the points I wanted to make

You haven't made a single point. It seems you don't understand what making a point means.

Your pattern is to respond to others' comments in such a way as to misrepresent what they have said in order to create a space to disparage nurses on a nursing forum.

amoLucia · May 24, 2020

First person experience -

I was hospitalized in 2 hosps from 5/4 to 5/11. My determining decision was simple - stay home and DIE or be hospitalized despite C19. I chose 911 hospitalization, knowing full-well that visitation of my next-of-kin, responsible party would NOT be possible except by phone. Unexpected, surprise gyn hemorrhaging (with a Hgb drop to 7.1 AFTER 1 unit blood) determined my stay. PP rzyzzy said a mouthful re pt's "significantly decreased physiological reserves". To say I needed family support is an understatement in view of emergency surgery, my DNR decision, and a new cancer diagnosis.

Providers' discussions were often mumbled garbled 'wa wa, wa, wa wa, wa' like good ole' Charlie Brown's school teacher. I have very limited memory of much of my early stay. I do remember that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was quick-quick because of C19. But the details remain very fuzzy.

And now I face travelling to another cancer hospital to determine my plan of care, again without any family to be present. And despite 36 years of nursing experience, I have lost some brain cells to best discern those impending discussions and decisions.

And as alone as I was during my hosp stays, I had a frail 79 y/o roommate, absolutely amazing. She too was without family support and facing immed discharge after 1 1/2 day hosp. Going home being alone with home care services. Try explaining all that to someone like her.

So from a first-hand experience, I can say that visitor limitation is significantly devastatingly debilitating. Inconvenient is one thing, I had NO clothes or personal effects. But the so sorely needed MENTAL (and emotional) support just couldn't be there when nec.

I truly understand the C19 restrictions. But at what cost to those deprived of support! It's of no use to bemoan things past or in the imminent future. I merely want to point out that today's restrictions are mind-boggling; nothing on TV can prepare one for the true REALITY of the PATIENT-EXPERIENCE just like TV does not truly present the REALITY of you front-line working staff.

Funny thing, I freq DID ask some staff about their feelings re visitor restrictions. For some there was relief from the burden of bothersome visitors, but they all acknowledged the heartbreaking deprivation so many pts were experiencing.

To all the staff during my hospitalization, from nurses & providers, to transport and dietary and hskpg and newbie nurses (incl GNs and senior nsg students), I say thank you for your dedication and commitment to go in to work each day and then for the service you provide when in. You are under-recognized and under appreciated, but not by ME. TY.

Susie2310 · Jun 18, 2020

I'm adding the link to another recent thread which contains many of the sentiments that were expressed on this thread, and more.