What are your ICU visitation hours???

[Nacki]

I work days in a Neuro ICU and have visiting hours 10hrs on my shift...from 8am to 6pm. Families stress me out! I could get a whole lot more work done if we just limited the ICU visitation to let's say 4 hrs...You'd think after having brain surgery you woulndn't want someone all over the bed raising your pts. BP. 10 hrs on end.

How long is everyone elses visiting hours in their unit?

[richard1980]

We have a locked unit. There's no visiting for an hour before and 2 hours after shift change and we limit visitors to 1 or 2 at a time. Also we can just say no visitors right now or if you do let them in kick them out after 5 to 10 minutes. It works well if you just explain to the familes that their loved one is your priority and any time you spend answering multiple phone calls or buzzing people in is time away from the patient. They usually understand, sometimes there's difficult family but I've found most to be pretty understanding if you're just up front with them i.e. he's very sick right now but we're watching him closing...etc...this drip we're using to do this etc....

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

I work in a locked unit. There is no visiting between 0600-0830 and 1800-2030. The rest of the time, visiting hours are open, but limited to two persons at a time unless the patient has had care withdrawn.

[Tash4nvyblues, RN]

We had 24 hour access for 2 people at a time and that worked really well for us, because usually, family and friends coordinated their time to suit each other.

[bradleyshanetaylor]

at my facility we have visiting hours for 30 minutes at a time starting at 6a, 9a, 1p, 5p, 9p. and then extra time can be permitted per nurse discretion.

[Maynmom]

We allow visitors in except during shift change which is 6:30-8:30 a.m. and p.m. Two at a time. At my last facility there were no limitations even during shift change. We are instructed to just close the door.