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Discussion

Visitors in Unit - Pros Cons

Hello All:

I am wondering and asking for all your comments on this for presentation to unit. Our unit has always had a policy of 15min/hour for visitors, however never enforced as it has always been important for patients to be able to have someone with them during dialysis treatment. (1) what are your policies? (2) What are reasons for allowing family, specifically, to be with a patient - reasons that corporate would agree to (3) positives of having family with patient (4) negatives of having family with patients.

There are a few in our unit that feel it is better with no visitors, however, is this really taking into consideration the patient and patient needs. The issues of infection control are bogus, as far as I am concerned, as staff are not perfect with conducting effective infection control practices - just being human, as well as my having observed family members being more aware of IC than some of our staff. I understand no visitors during put on and take off, but then again, this is for IC.. What about the family who holds site for patient.. this almost contradicts no patients for infection control purposes. Please take time and help me answer the above four questions so that I can address during staff meeting.. Thanks for your help my compadres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:welcome:

Featured Replies

  • Expert

Hi there - I'm an APN who rounds on dialysis patients. I work in two Fresenius units and their visiting is 15 minutes every hour. Family members and/or friends do hold pressure for many of our patients. At one unit it is no problem because there is plenty of space. It has 15 chairs. However, at my larger unit (32 chairs), it can sometimes get chaotic. I also ensure that if a patient codes, we eliminate all unnecessary visitors.

  • Author

Hi there APN, thank you for your response. My specific concerns are for those patients who, in fact, feel more comfortable with a loved one with them during treatment. what are your thoughts on this. Don't we need to think of the emotional/psychological aspects the patient is experiencing? I think we need to consider the importance of those who want someone with them during treatment. thx

  • Expert

Yes, I do agree with you on that. However, my other concern is for all the patient's privacy. The lack of privacy is something I haven't gotten used to. We also have the problem of our visitors visiting with other patients, wandering around the unit. Also, when I do rounds on pts, I try to be as discreet as possible, but I feel that I am not being as private as I would like if I was the patient.

Does this make sense? Truly after a year in HD, I would never ever want to do it. I would opt for in-home HD or PD.

  • Author

AHHH>. privacy. In all due respect, the conversations that I hear with staff talking w/ patients about other patients is totally inappropriate but seems to be acceptable in both units I am in - part time. Certainly not appropriate but reality with certain staff developing relationships with other patients, etc. As far as holding access sites, I would hope that visitor/family would be allowed to do so, even if busy, considering the alternative of clamps. However, my concern rests in the aspect of psychological and emotional trauma to a patient who, for example has for many years had someone with him/her throughout the treatment, now all of a sudden this FMC unit decides they will do the policy of 15/hr. Staff, in reality tend to do what they should ie 15 min checks when visitors are there and I know that often this is not done . What would be some reasons that a unit would allow a patient to have a family member, for example with them throughout the treatment. tx

  • Author

well looks like one of the units is going to stop allowing visitors, however, we have one patient, maybe two at times, who have orders for caregiver. i am a bit disgusted as there is really no reason to not allow visitors esp if the patient feels better having a loved one there. confidentiality.. what about chemo units?? is this not somewhat similar? in a huge room. Ofcourse cost would not allow for patients to have individual rooms, areas, so that they could have visitors as this would cut into their profits.. the smaller the space with the more patients is the name of the game. fmc and others need to truly realize the need of some patients who need someone with them.. i am sure that many do not but those that do must be taken into consideration.. i have heard staff say statements ie or similar to ----they can do what they want whenthere are no visitors.. they just do not, for the most part truly understand what the patient experiences... i do not think fmc does enough, nor davita training in psychological aspects, as wella ssother training.

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