CVICU open visitation

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Our CVICU, CCU & ICU are thinking about having open visitation for patients families instead of 30 minute visitation 4 or 5 times a day. We don't like the idea. I just want to know how many hospitals do that now, and how is it working? :confused:

Given a choice, (and I've worked both settings for decades) I would ALWAYS prefer SOME visiting time schedules vs open. It is much easier to relax the rules on occasion than try to gain some sense of control once a 'free for all' ensues. and this easily happens when family/visitors feel entitled to come and go as they please in a totally 'open' unit.

When I first started in a CVICU 14 years ago we had very strict visitation-3 15 minute visits per day. The exception was made for long term patients or those dying. NOW we have an open door policy-anyone and everyone can enter-it is a disaster. Surgeons are opening a chest at the bedside and family members are walking past-unreal situation; however someone decided this was good for the patient. What about the nurses?? We can no longer do our work because we need to be pleasing family members-getting them water, coffee or a pillow. If you do not you are reported for being a "difficult" care giver. Does the patient really want their family member to watch while they are getting foley care?? Or if they are paralyzed and sedated who is really benefiting from the visit?? I say lets go back to the old days with visiting hours and restrictions for children entering the ICU!

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Our CVICU has very strict visitation, 30 min 4x a day. It is an open unit so it is not feasible for the family to stay. The other 11 ICUs in the hospital only close their doors during shift change and codes. Family is permitted to stay overnight, but they cannot sleep in the room, and they are discouraged from sleeping in the waiting rooms as it may not be safe(nowhere to lock up their belongings as they sleep). We do have consultation rooms for families to camp out in if they have a family member that is particularly ill or have special needs.

Our family members can camp out in the room-luggage and all!!!

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.
When I first started in a CVICU 14 years ago we had very strict visitation-3 15 minute visits per day. The exception was made for long term patients or those dying. NOW we have an open door policy-anyone and everyone can enter-it is a disaster. Surgeons are opening a chest at the bedside and family members are walking past-unreal situation; however someone decided this was good for the patient. What about the nurses?? We can no longer do our work because we need to be pleasing family members-getting them water, coffee or a pillow. If you do not you are reported for being a "difficult" care giver. Does the patient really want their family member to watch while they are getting foley care?? Or if they are paralyzed and sedated who is really benefiting from the visit?? I say lets go back to the old days with visiting hours and restrictions for children entering the ICU!

Didn't you hear that hospital nursing is all about the customer service scores now? We get that thrown at us every shift, I am so tired of customer service scores I could puke. Without some control the nurses lose all respect and have no way to effectively care for the patients. It will be interseting to see the research against open visiting hours that comes out in about 10 years. You know they won't bother listening to the nurse at the bedside now.

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Didn't you hear that hospital nursing is all about the customer service scores now? We get that thrown at us every shift, I am so tired of customer service scores I could puke. Without some control the nurses lose all respect and have no way to effectively care for the patients. It will be interseting to see the research against open visiting hours that comes out in about 10 years. You know they won't bother listening to the nurse at the bedside now.

I could'nt agree with you more! It is not about the good care that a patient receives-it is about how the family perception of THEIR interaction with the nurse was. Recently had a family member enter another pt. room (what about HIPAA???) because their family member needed to go back to bed (after only being in the chair for 10 minutes). Because my reply was that the pt. had to wait and that I was caring for another pt. (much more critical also) the family member filed a complaint. I have also seen an excellent nurse quit because a family wanted a formal apology from her because she was in a code of another pt. and did not leave to answer a question for them (their family member had been in the unit for over 30 days). And...what about infection control? We have babies, toddlers playing on the floors in room and family members walking around in their socks...little do they realize the risk they are putting themselves in...and if you say something you are considered not promoting good customer satisfaction!!! Makes me so angry. I am glad that I will be soon leaving the bedside for another nursing postion that does not require direct pt. or family involvement.

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I hear you guys...I 'burned out' after 15 yrs in ICU last year, because of all the crap (open visiting was only ONE of the problems...but it was a biggie for me too) :(

I honestly don't know if I will ever go back to it. I'm now happily doing a private duty case in the home...one patient and one family only to deal with...heaven!!! :)

Thank God we have so many options out there, eh nurses??

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Well, at first, we had visiting hours from 10-12; 14-16- now, we have visiting hours every even hour for 30 minutes until 10:30p. Ie: 6-6:30a; 8-8:30a- and I tell you what- it's a pain in the ass. By 6-6:30p, I do not need family members asking me 50million questions when it's so close to shift change.

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Goodness-- THANK you... ugh... ignorance is bliss I guess.

I could'nt agree with you more! It is not about the good care that a patient receives-it is about how the family perception of THEIR interaction with the nurse was. Recently had a family member enter another pt. room (what about HIPAA???) because their family member needed to go back to bed (after only being in the chair for 10 minutes). Because my reply was that the pt. had to wait and that I was caring for another pt. (much more critical also) the family member filed a complaint. I have also seen an excellent nurse quit because a family wanted a formal apology from her because she was in a code of another pt. and did not leave to answer a question for them (their family member had been in the unit for over 30 days). And...what about infection control? We have babies, toddlers playing on the floors in room and family members walking around in their socks...little do they realize the risk they are putting themselves in...and if you say something you are considered not promoting good customer satisfaction!!! Makes me so angry. I am glad that I will be soon leaving the bedside for another nursing postion that does not require direct pt. or family involvement.
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