Using research to determine support for a policy on family presence during resuscitation.

Full Abstract

National guidelines and professional organizations have recommended allowing family presence during resuscitation and bedside invasive procedures. Studies found that only 5% of critical care units have written policies. Periodic requests by family members prompted the creation of a task force, including nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists, to develop this controversial policy. Before development, a research study of healthcare personnel attitudes, concerns, and beliefs toward family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and bedside invasive procedures was done. This descriptive and correlational study showed support for family presence by critical care and emergency department nurses. Findings revealed both support and non-support for families to be present during resuscitative efforts. Providing family presence as an option offers an opportunity for reluctant healthcare team members to refuse their presence and an opportunity for those who support family presence to welcome the family.

Author information

Author/s: Basol, Roberta (R); Ohman, Kathleen (K); Simones, Joyce (J); Skillings, Kirsten (K);

Affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, St Cloud Hospital, St Cloud, Minnesota 56303, USA. Basolr(-atsign-)centracare.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN (Dimens Crit Care Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2009 Sep-Oct; vol 28 (issue 5) : pp 237-47; quiz 248-9

Dates: Created 2009/08/24; Completed 2009/11/12;

PMID: 19700973, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 11/12/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.