Visiting Guidelines

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Specializes in NICU.

Can anyone give me an overview of the visiting guidelines for your NICU?

Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU.

I believe there was just a post about this topic not too long ago...

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Specializes in NICU.

I did a search and didn't find anything. So, on that note...

If anyone is willing to share some of their visiting guidelines, I would really appreciate it!

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Specializes in NICU - 112 bed NICU.

We have visiting 24/7 except not from 630 - 730 AM and PM. 2 allowed at bedside at at time, one visitor must be a banded person. Siblings allowed over 2 years old, immunizations up to date and free of illness. We have had babies get RSV from siblings. Parents can also have a few folks on a list to be allowed to visit without one of them present.

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We have visiting 24/7 except not from 630 - 730 AM and PM. 2 allowed at bedside at at time, one visitor must be a banded person. Siblings allowed over 2 years old, immunizations up to date and free of illness. We have had babies get RSV from siblings. Parents can also have a few folks on a list to be allowed to visit without one of them present.

The last couple of units I've worked in have been similar. Some variations:

Grandparents can visit if their on the 'list' without a parent or banded support person present.

One unit required visitor's where a gown; one did not.

One unit siblings had to be over three; the other siblings under three could visit if there was a second adult there to look after them. There was flexibility with this. Mom's of twins where one twin was already discharged were allowed to bring that twin in when she visited the twin in the unit.

All siblings under the age of 14 should have their temps checked.

Other visitors have to be accompanied by a parent (or banded support person) and were limited to one at a time. Other visitors have to be over 14.

One unit let parents in during report; the other did not.

There's something to be said about unit culture and how policies are interpreted. For instance, most units will include in the policy that parents may be asked to wait or leave if a code or sterile procedure is happening but some not so family-friendly units will take that to the extreme. I've seen parents wait hours to come in and be held off because the nurse was busy with another patient. Inexcusable in my book.

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