visiting hours in the ICU

jadednurse · Sep 14, 2003

Hi Kim. I don't know of any articles off the top of my head, but some of the awesome people around here will find you some. Just wanted to say that this is always an issue in all of the ICUs that I've worked in. Main thing for me is, you can make all the policies you want about this, but if you don't have adequate staff or systems in place to ENFORCE them, it's all just a big waste of time. I know I have enough to do w/o adding "visitor police" to my job description!

aj1973 · Sep 18, 2003

Hi there

We are fortunate in the ICU I work in - we've recently had a MAJOR redevelopment, and visitors and the monitoring of them was a big focus. We now have visiting from 0830 - 2030, 2 visitors at a time. We have volunteers present through visiting times who ring through to the bedside to see if we are ready for visitors to be brought through - we have total control over the situation and it works just fine.

Hope that helps

Cheers,

Mandy

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2003

Ours is pretty open. 2 people at a time 0800 - 2000 is OFFICIAL but we tend to allow a lot more leeway with the times and numbers depending on what is happening in the unit and to the patient.

I usually explain that because of X-rays and rounds they won't be able to get in to see the pt until 1000-1030 in the mornings.

If the patient is dying or the unit is quietish we will relax the 2 at a time rule.

We DO allow children to visit at the discretion of the parents. I was a strict "No children" policy nurse until I visited a Paeds ICU and saw the siblings interact. They explained that it is important to allow the children to maintain the bonding and many kids NOT seeing the sibling was worse as they see plenty from TV and they have active imaginations. I was also told that children tend to focus more on the person and less on the machinery which is true only after you have gotten them over the "Bridge of the Starship Enterprise" look.

Hope this helps.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2003

People, we, as nurses work ALL different types of hours/shifts, as does the general public...If I work 3p-3a in an ER or a bakery, and my mom is in an ICU at a different hospital, I'll be damned if you stop me from the 0400 visit...Lighten Up!

Let family members visit WHENEVER it's convienient for them.

And if there's a PCXR at 0730 in the next room, then ask me to step out for a bit. Maybe I just got off work, and my time is limited...

I please families...PERIOD!

Though I work LTC now, and visiting hours can be more lax, I have worked ICU and ER...A visitor is a visitor NO MATTER WHICH TYPE OF SETTING!!!!!! Let them see the family at their convienience!!! How dare you disallow someone from their rights!!

(If you're draining a pleural effusion and quarters are small, ask them to wait in the waiting room. Don't give them the boot because you are busy! They might help you with a reposition or a bed bath later!!!)

Patient SAFETY first. (Though I can't think of many situations where a visitor in a room compromises patient safety)

Kids CAN be a different story though. Keep them QUIET and respectful (this, of course goes for ALL visitors though)

My only hard and fast rule (and I'll tell them if I see it): No leering into others' rooms will be tolerated. I can't stand nosey visitors!!!

Sean

CougRN · Sep 18, 2003

Our ICU policy is two visitors at a time. The are allowed from 10am-130pm, 3pm-7pm, 830pm-9pm. That is policy as is no children under the age of 12.

Depending on the circumstances and the acuity of the patient we may work around the times and the number of patients. Visitors are required to call from a phone outside our doors before entering. This is what is supposed to happen but a lot of times they just come on in. We have our policy to hand out to them and we explain it when the patient arrives. We also designate a family spokes person so we don't have to tell every visitor the same thing about the patient.

This works for the most part but some families are more of a challenge than others. It just takes education and patience.

Best of luck.

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 18, 2003

We have open hours...anytime, anyday, any number of people...children with discretion....

98% visitors don't abuse this open policy. They still keep their visits short & sweet. The other 2% of the time I look like a HORRIBLE OGRE having to tell them that sitting in a room at 2 a.m. with the T.V. blaring is NOT helpful when their loved one is trying to rest & heal....

:cool:

cathy949 · Sep 19, 2003

As USA987, we have an open policy which works very well. In fact our visitors often help out when we are busy. They make our drinks and go to the shop for much needed snacks.