After reading a thread on adult ICU/CCU visitation, I went back through the last 6 months of threads on this site. I didn't see a discussion on NICU visitation and would like some input on your unit's policy.
For years and years our unit allowed 24 hour visitation for parents and grandparents only. About 3 or 4 years ago the hospital required us to allow other visitors accompained by either parent and over the age of 14 to visit. Only 2 people are allowed at the bedside, but visitors can swap in and out. We require visitors to do a 3 minute scrub before entering, but there is no one there to make sure that they do it properly!
My concern is the increase we are seeing in infection among our babies. Granted the high acuity and understaffing play a roll in this. However, these are issues we have always dealt with in the more than 20 years I have worked. It's only been recently that we've seen more frequent cases of MRSA-either cultured or colonized-among our babies.
My questions to you: What is your unit's visitation policy? Visiting Hours? Cover gowns -yes or no? Does some one help visitors scrub?
Our secretaries have a list up front..we are a locked unit...and they check the list, call back to make sure it is okay for visitors. When the families get complicated, we get social work involved to sort it out and help us with the visitation list. We have the "primary" visitors listed and the mom and dad can have 2 extra visitors per day....so, if dad has a new girl, that girl one of the extra visitors, if there are a billion grandparents, they can list 4 and the others are considered extras. We tell them, pick wisely weedhopper as those 2 passes go fast and you have to wait until 10am the next day to have 2 more. If there is not a dad listed on the list then if he happens to meander over, has no band, then no admittance....he has to come with the mom.
If we get caught not checking bands and ID's then we are in deep doo-doo, it is hospital policy for our unit and the nurseries.
Being in a 50 bed plus unit, if we had open visitation we would all be insane! We have the occassional snit about the rules, but most of the time people are okay with it.
Being in a 50 bed plus unit, if we had open visitation we would all be insane! We have the occassional snit about the rules, but most of the time people are okay with it.
Ha! Our unit has as many as 85 babies and we still do open visiting..... And yes, it does get insane! I want to work where you work!
Our unit is pretty small compared to y'all's 25 beds. This included ICU and intermediate. I like your hospitals policy Gompers. But you guys work in such big units I can see why you would have to be so strict.
BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN
1,823 Posts
Our secretaries have a list up front..we are a locked unit...and they check the list, call back to make sure it is okay for visitors. When the families get complicated, we get social work involved to sort it out and help us with the visitation list. We have the "primary" visitors listed and the mom and dad can have 2 extra visitors per day....so, if dad has a new girl, that girl one of the extra visitors, if there are a billion grandparents, they can list 4 and the others are considered extras. We tell them, pick wisely weedhopper as those 2 passes go fast and you have to wait until 10am the next day to have 2 more. If there is not a dad listed on the list then if he happens to meander over, has no band, then no admittance....he has to come with the mom.
If we get caught not checking bands and ID's then we are in deep doo-doo, it is hospital policy for our unit and the nurseries.
Being in a 50 bed plus unit, if we had open visitation we would all be insane! We have the occassional snit about the rules, but most of the time people are okay with it.