Visitation policies on the adult ICU: Nurses' satisfaction and preferences

The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Visitor Restrictions on the Attitudes of Emergency Department Staff

INTRODUCTION

During the first 2 years of the pandemic, visitors for patients with COVID-19 were prohibited from emergency departments in the United States with few exceptions, leaving patients without their caregivers and advocates. Little is known about emergency nurses and nursing assistive personnel beliefs regarding this issue. Therefore, this study's purpose was to describe and assess relationships among emergency nursing and assistive personnel attitudes and perceptions regarding emergency department "no-visitor policies" for patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

This institutional review board-approved observational study was conducted in a health care system in the Southwestern United States. Nursing personnel (n = 180; 21.74% response rate) working in 11 emergency departments completed the survey during the fall of 2021. Bivariate correlations and multivariable linear regression modeling were performed to explore relationships among survey questions.

RESULTS

Most participants (61%) strongly/very strongly believed that restriction of visitors for patients with COVID-19 was necessary for the protection of staff and patients. In addition, 65% reported strongly/very strongly agreeing that it was unethical and 75% felt upset when these patients died alone. Most (81%) strongly/very strongly agreed that exemptions to the policy should be made in some cases, including imminent death. Respondents' recognition of patients' displeasure with visitor policy, recognition that a lack of visitors affected efficiency, and feeling upset when these patients died alone negatively predicted agreement that restriction was necessary.

CONCLUSION

Although most participants favored visitation restrictions for patients with coronavirus disease 2019, their beliefs were complex. Navigating stringent visitation policies and vulnerable patients' needs can result in moral distress for ED personnel.

Open visitation policy in intensive care units in Jordan: cross-sectional study of nurses' perceptions

INTRODUCTION

Intensive care unit patients and families experience significant stress. It creates frustrations, nervousness, irritability, social isolation for patients, anxiety, and depression for families. An open visitation policy with no time or duration limits may assist in reducing these negative experiences. However, most Jordanian and regional hospitals within the Middle-East and Northern Africa (MENA) have not implemented this strategy.

PURPOSE

To evaluate nurse managers' and nurses' perspectives on the effects of an open visitation policy at intensive care units (ICUs) on patients, families, and nurses' care.

METHOD

A cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative survey design was used.

RESULTS

A total of 234 nurses participated in the study; 59.4% were males, and 40.6% were females. The mean of their age was 28.6 years, with a mean of 4.1 years of experience. Nurses generally had negative perceptions and attitudes toward the open visitation policy and its consequences on the patient, family, and nursing care.

CONCLUSIONS

ICU managers and staff nurses did not favor implementing an open visitation in their units despite its known benefits, international recommendations, and relevance and compatibility with the local religious and cultural context. A serious discussion regarding this hesitation from the side of the healthcare professionals should be started to find a suitable solutions that consider the benefits of the open visitation policy and the challenges that prevent its implementation in the Jordanian and Arabic cultures.