At Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, the intensive care unit (ICU) patient satisfaction team made a proactive choice to offer family presence during invasive procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In September 2007, a resuscitation team was formed consisting of 8 members, all registered nurses (RNs). In order to gain a better understanding of staff perceptions regarding family presence at the bedside, the project Family Presence During Resuscitation and Invasive Procedures was put together; the first phase of the project included a basic 5-item survey with answers measured on a 4 to 1 Likert scale. This survey was given to all ICU RNs, respiratory therapists, ICU physicians, pastoral care, unit clerks, nurse technicians, and security personnel. The survey questions were as follows:
The survey identified a common theme among staff members, namely, that education of the family is vital; however, almost half (47%) of staff members were opposed to family...
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