|
 We
know that your primary concern right now is the welfare of
your relative or friend. The ICU Care Team recognizes your
contribution to the team and the importance of your visits
to your loved one’s recovery. We also realize and understand
that you too need support, reassurance, and information. We
will make every effort to meet your needs while we are providing
care to your loved one. We know you will have many questions
and we will do our best to provide you with answers. Please
let us know what your needs are and how we can help.
Who Can Visit and When
Visiting hours in ICU are designed to help improve
the recovery of your relative or friend. When you
wish to visit, call from the Family Room, identify
yourself, your family member you wish to visit and
ask if it’s convenient to visit.
Please follow these important
guidelines when visiting in ICU:
- Two immediate family members at a time
- Visit for short periods of time
- Visit during normal waking hours
- Ordinarily, children under the age of 12 are
not allowed to visit.
- If you have, or think you have a communicable
illness, please do not visit. If you are unsure
what to do, please talk with your relative’s
nurse.
- ICU staff may limit visits if the patient status
warrants it.
- Proceed directly to your family members bedside
and remain there to respect the privacy of others
| ICU
Visiting Hours |
| |
10:00 a.m. – 12:30
p.m. |
| |
3:30 p.m. – 7:00
p.m. |
| |
8:30 p.m. – 9:30
p.m. |
|
The purpose for having restricted visitation is to minimize patient stress and stimulation in order to encourage rest and recovery periods for the patient. In addition, bedside care and interventions or treatments are frequently performed, and at those times, family members will be asked to wait in the family room. However, ICU nurses are trained and committed to individualizing the visitation to best meet the needs of each patient and family, with the intent that every decision is based first and foremost on the healing and recovery of the patient.
‘Immediate Family’ refers to mother, father, husband, wife, partner or siblings. In the absence of these individuals, significant individuals may be defined by the patient. Where the patient is unable to identify these individuals, the nurse will gather that information on the patient’s behalf.
Generally, extended family is discouraged to visit on a daily basis until such time the patient’s critical status has improved and the patient transferred to the next level of care.
Each culture may define ‘immediate family’ differently. Therefore, the ICU staff will define it with the family to best meet the patient’s needs.
Each family will be given a visitation pamphlet and the ICU’s direct phone number to easily access the ICU nurse and necessary patient information at all times.
If the visiting hours do not meet your family’s needs, we encourage you to talk with your relative’s nurse or the Nurse Manager to discuss alternate arrangements.
Staying Overnight
When a patient is admitted to the ICU on an emergency or unexpected basis, or if a patient is near death, the family has the option to spend most of the night in the waiting room with visits to the patient when it is appropriate. Except for these circumstances, the ICU Care Team strongly encourages families to break for the night and return home to rest. Again, please talk to your relative’s nurse or Nurse Manager if this does not meet your needs.
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