Yesterday at a staff meeting, the issue of visiting hours came up. Currently, our visiting hours are 1030-1100, 1330-1400 and 1800-1830. (Also, keep in mind, we're Neurosurg.) Now they're talking about making open visiting, with the exception of shift changes and doctor rounding time.
I think this could be disasterous! I can't imagine having open visiting in an ICU that's open! I mean you'd have people in and out all the time. My manager says we're not doing it yet, but states that maybe we should try it, before they make us do it! I have to say I'm not crazy about the idea!
Also, we're a NEURO unit! These people need decreased stimulation! It's bad enough that these pt's have to endure three half-hour visiting of family screaming "squeeze my hand, open your eyes, etc.".....but to have it more!!??!!?? Uh, I think I'd have to slit my wrists too!
Let me know what your visiting hours are and what you think of open visiting!
Forgot to add though... the door is not always open. Family must call back to see if it's ok to visit. We do ask them to stay out for intubations, line placement, report, rounds, etc... they just can't WALK in anytime freely. In fact, our current unit is LOCKED, and the door must be buzzed open by the receptionist.
I would LOVE this...and loved units I worked on in the past like this. :)
We have a true open door unit...they come and go as they please. Very difficult for me to function efficiently with all this freedom of visiting. Very difficult to protect privacy. I am trying to enlist the help of my new manager in empowering the nurses to put SOME limits on this. We shall see if I succeed...
I've worked in Neuro ICUs with both policies, and I have to say I far prefer scheduled visitation, with additional visitation at the nurse's discretion. The open visitation only works with strict enforcement of the "2 at a time" rule and a locked unit.
We have 5 scheduled visiting times where I currently work that range in times from 45-90 minutes each and I've found that it's usually ample time for a family to visit with a comatose, intubated patient. As many of the other posters have mentioned, it is often imperative that neuro patients have decreased environmental stimuli and often times their families just don't get it and won't leave them alone.
Another aspect of "family centered care" in relation to the critically ill is that close family members often do not care for themselves properly while their loved one is in the ICU, and by the time the patient is ready to go out, the family is burnt out and exhausted. I feel that patients need the support of their families far more in the post-critical and rehab periods, than when they are constantly under the watchful eye of the ICU nurse.
My manager says we're not doing it yet, but states that maybe we should try it, before they make us do it! I have to say I'm not crazy about the idea!
mattsmom81
4,516 Posts
I would LOVE this...and loved units I worked on in the past like this. :)
We have a true open door unit...they come and go as they please. Very difficult for me to function efficiently with all this freedom of visiting. Very difficult to protect privacy. I am trying to enlist the help of my new manager in empowering the nurses to put SOME limits on this. We shall see if I succeed...