Listening to nurses: study of guest visiting times in an intensive care unit

Identifier:  TFG:2512

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2512

Authors:  Pérez Sánchez, Lorena

Abstract:
Nowadays, the discussion on guest visiting times in Units of Intensive Cures is still on the table. Despite of the several proven benefits for patients, relatives, and professionals, difficulties rise when implementing flexible-time visits. The present study has the objective of knowing how nurses face the establishment of flexible visiting times in an UIC, which effects it has in their work, and which the benefits are. For this, a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was carried out through three interviews to nurses of the UIC of the Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII. Their nurses, even being familiar with known benefits of flexible-timing, considered that the change shall not be implemented drastically but progressively. They argued that the Unit is not yet prepared for preserving the intimacy of patients, and that the change will increase their workload. In conclusion, it was observed that nurses generally agreed with implementing flexible visiting times for relatives but limiting actions with rules, which ease coexistence, and with more support in their work so that not all the responsibility relies on a single person.