Perspectives of intensive care nurses on open visits in an ICU.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitude of the nursing professionals of an Intensive Care Unit regarding the effects of open visiting on the daily activities of the patient, their family and professionals, and also to determine their contribution to the current open visiting policy. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, with a non-probabilistic discretionary sampling. The sample comprised nursing professionals of the aforementioned Unit. They were given a questionnaire with 26 items and an open question to evaluate their suggestions. RESULTS: 101 nursing professionals took part in the study, of the 120 working in the Unit under study. Seventy-five point two percent state that the nursing team has to postpone or modify their work due to the presence of the family and 89.9% that their presence produces a physical and psychological burden on the staff. Eighty percent think that the visit exhausts the family and 84.2% that the family feels obliged to remain with the patient. Ninety-four percent think that the effect of the presence of the family depends on the patient and the family. CONCLUSIONS: Most of professionals have a negative opinion about the policy of open visits, showing some reluctance when it comes to flexible visiting hours, although they admit that an unrestricted schedule in this type of units implies some benefit for the patient and the family.

Perspectivas de los profesionales de enfermería de cuidados intensivos sobre las visitas abiertas en una UCI / Perspectives of intensive care nurses on open visits in an ICU

Objetivo Conocer la opinión de los profesionales de enfermería de una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente (UCI) respecto a los efectos de la visita abierta en el paciente, en la familia y en la actividad diaria de los profesionales, así como sus aportaciones a la actual política de visitas abiertas. Método Estudio transversal, descriptivo, mediante muestreo discrecional no probabilístico. La muestra estuvo formada por profesionales de enfermería de la citada Unidad. Se les entregó un cuestionario con 26 ítems, desarrollado y adaptado por Marco et al., además de una pregunta abierta. Resultados La tasa de participación fue del 84% de los profesionales de la unidad (101/120). El 75,2% manifestó que el equipo de enfermería tiene que posponer o modificar su trabajo debido a la presencia de la familia y el 89,9% que su presencia produce una carga física y psíquica al personal. El 80% pensaba que la visita agota a la familia y el 84,2% que la familia se siente obligada a permanecer con el paciente. El 94% opinó que el efecto de la presencia de la familia depende del paciente y de la familia. Conclusiones La mayoría de los profesionales han tenido una opinión negativa hacia la política de visitas abiertas, mostrando cierta reticencia a la hora de flexibilizar los horarios de visita; aunque admitieron que un horario sin restricciones en este tipo de unidades supone cierto grado de beneficio para el paciente y la familia. (AU)

Objective To determine the attitude of the nursing professionals of an Intensive Care Unit regarding the effects of open visiting on the daily activities of the patient, their family and professionals, and also to determine their contribution to the current open visiting policy. Method A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, with a non-probabilistic discretionary sampling. The sample comprised nursing professionals of the aforementioned Unit. They were given a questionnaire with 26 items and an open question to evaluate their suggestions. Results 101 nursing professionals took part in the study, of the 120 working in the Unit under study. Seventy-five point two percent state that the nursing team has to postpone or modify their work due to the presence of the family and 89.9% that their presence produces a physical and psychological burden on the staff. Eighty percent think that the visit exhausts the family and 84.2% that the family feels obliged to remain with the patient. Ninety-four percent think that the effect of the presence of the family depends on the patient and the family. Conclusions Most of professionals have a negative opinion about the policy of open visits, showing some reluctance when it comes to flexible visiting hours, although they admit that an unrestricted schedule in this type of units implies some benefit for the patient and the family. (AU)

Perspectives of intensive care nurses on open visits in an ICU. / Perspectivas de los profesionales de enfermería de cuidados intensivos sobre las visitas abiertas en una UCI.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitude of the nursing professionals of an Intensive Care Unit regarding the effects of open visiting on the daily activities of the patient, their family and professionals, and also to determine their contribution to the current open visiting policy. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, with a non-probabilistic discretionary sampling. The sample comprised nursing professionals of the aforementioned Unit. They were given a questionnaire with 26 items and an open question to evaluate their suggestions. RESULTS: 101 nursing professionals took part in the study, of the 120 working in the Unit under study. Seventy-five point two percent state that the nursing team has to postpone or modify their work due to the presence of the family and 89.9% that their presence produces a physical and psychological burden on the staff. Eighty percent think that the visit exhausts the family and 84.2% that the family feels obliged to remain with the patient. Ninety-four percent think that the effect of the presence of the family depends on the patient and the family. CONCLUSIONS: Most of professionals have a negative opinion about the policy of open visits, showing some reluctance when it comes to flexible visiting hours, although they admit that an unrestricted schedule in this type of units implies some benefit for the patient and the family.