We need visiting hours!! Does anybody have them?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2009

Sorry no answer for you. I work in a hospital that emphasizes family centered care, so the family members are welcome pretty much round the clock to visit. Normally it works out ok, I am just polite but firm if I need to tell them I need to take care of something else first, then I'll answer their questions, etc.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 6, 2009

There are no visiting hours because families don't like to follow rules. Families feel they have the "right" to be at the bedside when ever they want to be, and they are usually the ones who fill out that Press Ganey survey! It is all about making people happy not healthy and quality pt care isn't an issue!

I had a kid (18) swear at me like a sailor the other night. When I quietly asked her to calm down and watch her mouth, there were children around, she pushed her had on my chest and asked me if I'd heard of freedom of speech "or did you miss that in school while you were learning to wipe A$$#$?!". Security did escort her and her friends off the property but only because she touched me. We shouldn't have to put up with that kind of treatment.

Equinox_93 · Feb 6, 2009

A nice compromise is to selectively enforce visiting hours. If the patient wants someone there with them- they should be able to have them there. If that person isn't getting in the way and being a nuisance- they should be able to visit when it's convenient for them and the patient. (And for those "lovely" folk who insist on being a pain- one can use the policy to get rid of them. :) )

Once again I spent at least a quarter of my shift dealing with overanxious and/or hostile visitors. Very little of it did my patients any good and a lot of it didn't require much nursing knowledge. If I had those hours for patient care there was SO much I could have done for my patients. Why, why, why can't we have visiting hours so the staff can do the things the patients need; isn't that the whole point of having the patient in the hospital? I know some visitors are concerned their loved ones won't get the care they need unless they're there, and that's ok if visitors are there to help. But too often the visitors become issues in themselves, and there is no consideration given to that in staffing. Many years ago there were real visiting hours and they were enforced. I am not talking about keeping parents away from young children or putting any restrictions on a patient who is terminally ill. But come on!! Either give us some time to care for our patients the way they need to be cared for or hire some hostesses to fetch the coffee, blankets, and crackers, to listen to endless stories about visitors' own surgeries and anxieties, and in general do the things that eat up our time and make us crazy. What can we DO??

jjensen · Feb 6, 2009

In my hospital we have no visiting hours. All the rooms are private and huge and have a pull out couch. We actually encourage family members to stay. When I have something else to do, I politely tell the family that I have to pass my meds, or do my assessments and they should write down all their questions and when I can focus on them, I will be back. I work nights mostly and I have taken the family members to our conference room and sat down with them to give them some personal time. This has worked out well for me... I am sorry you are frustrated. I have been the family member when my husband was in the hospital and I did not want to leave either... Being in a hospital is scary. I try to see it from everyone's angle...

BGgirl · Feb 6, 2009

We have visiting hours that usually end at 8p and they are announced overhead. I normally let people stay a little longer if they are not in my way and are not being overbearing. Otherwise I tend to mention that visiting hours are over. Some visitors do get to stay the night but that's on a case by case situation.

We frequently have people head over to the hospital at 2-3am wanting to visit their family memeber. That's when we normally put our foot down and don't let them upstairs to see the pt. (security stops them at the front desk) I just don't like the though of random people wandering around the hospital at night when we're not a locked unit.

k-t-did · Feb 6, 2009

As the loved one of a hospital patient, I would be very disturbed by enforced visiting hours. Not all hospitals/nurses do a good job, frankly, and I think it's important that the patient have an advocate by their bedside.

Now, once i start clinicals, i am sure I will see what you guys are talking about. But, I think if the family is disruptive or intrusive on care, they should be made to leave.

interleukin · Feb 6, 2009

There are no visiting hours because families don't like to follow rules. Families feel they have the "right" to be at the bedside when ever they want to be, and they are usually the ones who fill out that Press Ganey survey! It is all about making people happy not healthy and quality pt care isn't an issue!
I had a kid (18) swear at me like a sailor the other night. When I quietly asked her to calm down and watch her mouth, there were children around, she pushed her had on my chest and asked me if I'd heard of freedom of speech "or did you miss that in school while you were learning to wipe A$$#$?!". Security did escort her and her friends off the property but only because she touched me. We shouldn't have to put up with that kind of treatment.

swearing at you is assault...never stand for it. Anything that affects your patient care needs to be addressed immediately.

Usually, a simple" If you cannot control yourself you will be escorted out."

Say it early and unemotionally...don't wait for the battery which may ensue.

kellykelly · Feb 6, 2009

We have visiting hours but they're rarely enforced. I don't mind family members staying overnight as long as they're respectful of others and they're not interfering with care. Sometimes you get family members that are truly, truly obnoxious but I've never had to have anyone escorted out. I get sick of being a verbal punching bag for visitors who think we're all out to get grandma the minute their backs are turned...but I do my best to be friendly and professional and rarely have problems. Most of the time visitors are a joy as they can help keep an eye on the patient and notify you of any subtle changes that you might miss if you're not familiar with the patient. Plus some of them are really nice people and can really boost your day when they tell you how much they appreciate your care.

It irks me to stand there and take crap from people you would NEVER take crap from if it were anywhere else, but you have to be a professional and that includes doing your best not to take it personally, and learning when to ignore the little comments and barbs. You never know what any given day will bring, do you? Makes it a challenge but often there are rewards.

LaneyB · Feb 6, 2009

I think unless they are disruptive families should be allowed to stay with their loved one. The hospital I worked at had no visiting hours, and we managed. Many patients are intimidated and do not want to stay without a family member. I also think it helps the patient to have an advocate.

Chixie · Feb 6, 2009

We have visiting times and protected meal times so unless the visitor is helping to feed the patient then they arent allowed on the ward at those times.They are strictly enforced,even doctors arent allowed to be on the ward at those times. We also dont answer the phones during meal times (they are taken off the hook) apart from one line,in the office which is a private line for doctors/results/staff etc

We are quite lucky and since this came into effect more patients are eating

However we do make exceptions for the really ill patients

Equinox_93 · Feb 7, 2009

We have visiting times and protected meal times so unless the visitor is helping to feed the patient then they arent allowed on the ward at those times.They are strictly enforced,even doctors arent allowed to be on the ward at those times. We also dont answer the phones during meal times (they are taken off the hook) apart from one line,in the office which is a private line for doctors/results/staff etc
We are quite lucky and since this came into effect more patients are eating
However we do make exceptions for the really ill patients

See- that is too bad IMO... I'd think a gentle reminder that it's meal time and that family are welcome to bring their own food up to share with the patient or go down and get something so the patient can eat would be alot better. I'd be very bothered being in a hospital as a patient and not being able to share a meal with my visitors. Now- there are certainly circumstances that could merit a patient eating alone- but for various reasons (potential choking, the social aspect of meal times etc.) I'd think it a positive thing in at least many cases to be able to have visitors. I know when I occasionally am in for a hospital stay I *hate* having mealtimes alone. Of course- I'm also the sort of person who makes sure my visitors aren't being pains in the rear, so... However- I also realize that, unfortunately, common sense isn't common and some people don't have the social couth to be able to realize that a patient may not be forgoing their meal when the visitor is there beacuse they aren't hungry, but rather because it's considered by many to be rude to eat in front of someone. So I can see both sides to it...