Dealing with ICU visitors

Specialties MICU

Published

I need to know if others out there have the same difficulties with patients family members/visitors in the ICU.

In my facility visiting hours are more strict than they are on the floors. Visiting is supposed to be from 12-8 and we close the unit to all visitors during change of shift (for HIPPA reasons). There are only supposed to be 2 visitors at a time and no children under 12 allowed. We even give pamphlets on the ICU to the family at the time of admission to the ICU that outlines all of the above in addtion to things to expect when your loved on is in the ICU.

However, more often than not 3-4 or more people will show up and go into a patients room at a time. (Part of this is the fault of security and/or visitor control). When they are reminded of the rules or when the overhead announcement is made when visiting is over for the night or during shift change, visitors simply ignore us. In a few instances they refuse to leave. And once recently we've had to call security and the police dept.!!

I am not heartless and I do understand and am willing to make exceptions when I know the pt's spouse or child works until late and wants to come by after hours for a little while or if the pt is actively dying etc. But many times these are patients who are completely stable whose families give us the hardest time. Also, there are times there are 4 visitors in this rm with the patient, a vent, monitors, mult IV poles, IABP etc and they are crowded around the patient and when I come in to do my job to care for THIER family member they don't even back off so I have to do acrobatics to hang a new drip or check a BP! And they act like its such a nuisance to let me do what I need to do when I ask them to please move. We explain to them that ICU pts need more rest than they think with all the tests, procedures, etc they go through. But it doesn't stop them from yelling into their loved one's face (who is vented and on a propofol gtt) "WAKE UP MOM!!!! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!!! WAKE UP AND LOOK AT ME!!"

They use their cell phones in the room after being told it interferes with the monitors connected to their loved ones. They don't wear the appropriate PPE when going into an iso room. If they do wear it, they leave the room and go in the hallway to talk on their cell phones still wearing the gown and gloves. And the nastiest thing of all is when the use the bathrooms that are shared by 2 rms to dump bedpans and urinals!!!!

Not sure if I've just lost my patience along the way or if anyones meets this much resistance, and often outright rudeness from family members. I love it when they finally do leave saying so intentionally loud "Sorry I have to leave, the nurse is kicking us out" or "they won't let me stay with you."

Just wondering what your visiting restrictions are in your ICU's, if you meet the same resistance, and what you all do in these situations.

Specializes in ICU, medsurg/tele.

we are in the process of becoming a locked unit and it cant happen fast enough!! families have been out of control lately, calling the CEO, president, DON etc. because they dont like our visiting policy. I end up spending too much time arguing with families than taking care of the patient. And one thing i CANNOT stand is them trying to wake up a patient who is sedated after I have explained 100 times the medication is keeping them asleep. I do tell them they can talk to their loved on and let them know they are there and I encourage this but to yell at the patient and tell them to wake up is ridiculous. I just imagine being that patient in bed, intubated, restrained and sedated having my family members yell at me to wake up. Right now our visiting policy is 2 at a time during the day, no one at night unless pt is actively dying and no one under 12. They are also asked to call before entering unit to make sure it is okay to come visit. But nope they sneak in and get mad when we tell them to wait outside or they try to hide behind the curtain in the room. Yes i can see you and yes i can count and see there are 5 family members in here and not 2. Then they start raiding a comfort cart ment for another patient. Yes i see you stuffing the sandwiches and soda in your bag. :nono: (sorry for the vent families have been extra difficult lately)

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

my hospital has announced plans to go to 24 hour visiting. i'm looking for another job . . . .

Specializes in Emergency Dept, ICU.
my hospital has announced plans to go to 24 hour visiting. i'm looking for another job . . . .

you might as well stay everyone is going to this soon. on our last jacho visit we were cited for having visiting hours! now we are open 22 hours of the day.

Specializes in SICU/CVICU.

I have been an ICU nurse for over 35 years. I know that families can be difficult. I know that they increase my work load. There is, however, one more thing I know.

I know what it is like to spend hours in an ICU waiting room, not knowing whether or not my father had survived his emergency MVR. Iknow what it is like to tell my mother that her husband of over 50 years had already arrested once and we don't know what will happen. I know what it is like to watch a clock for hours while trying to keep the children entertained until a friend can come and pick them up. This experience changed how I viewed visitors. After the first 2 days in the ICU, my sisters, both educated women--one is a lawyer and the other is an engineer--asked me why we were only allowed in for a few minutes because the only thing they saw the nurses do is chart. They knew the nurses were doing important things but they didn't know what.

When I talk to families about visiting, I explain what we do for the patient and then I show them what they can do. I channel all that love and energy. Instead of yelling for the patient to open his eyes, let them rub the patients foot or arm, when the patient is more alert, let them give the ice chips and show them how to help the patient use the IS and splint. Those visitors love the patient in the bed just as much as you love your family members. Just try to put yourself in their position.

The last thing I have to say is when we wrote the policy about visiting we wrote about the behaviors that would not be tolerated. Instead of not allowing children, we described the behaviors that were not permitted. Works much better and then everyone is on the same page.

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