Nurses' perceptions of open visiting hours in neuroscience intensive care unit

J Nurs Care Qual. 2005 Apr-Jun;20(2):182-9. doi: 10.1097/00001786-200504000-00015.

Abstract

A quality improvement project was undertaken by Neuro-ICU nurses to determine possible effects from open visitation. From a quality improvement perspective, nurses' concerns were investigated along with their perceptions about open visitation to determine a need for visitation policy revision. Vast variability in nurses' interpretation and implementation of individualized open visitation policy suggested a need for the following: staff education about the policy and its implementation, a review of the literature to determine the validity of concerns about deleterious physiologic effects on neuroscience patients from visitation, and improved communication among nurses about visitation.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units / organization & administration*
  • Nervous System Diseases / nursing*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Organizational Policy
  • Professional-Family Relations
  • Texas
  • Visitors to Patients*