After reading Protocols for Practice Update 2003 in the October issue, my brain would not let go of the subject matter. The adult critical care unit I work in has very liberal visiting policies. This fact has led us to consider limiting our access, not increasing it.
Critical care nurses are increasingly looked at as the coordinator of care as well as the provider of direct patient care. When an RN is charged with the care of 2 critically ill adults, it is near impossible to meet your patients’ needs, when you are constantly bombarded with family questions, comments, chit-chat, and family psychosocial needs. Most nurses have seen that patients and families don’t always want 24-hour access. Nurses who are new to the profession need to concentrate on patient assessment and what they are doing for the patient, and these frequent interruptions lead to more errors and high frustration. I...