Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate nurses' views about visiting in coronary care unit (CCU).

Background. Social support includes emotional and instrumental support provided by family and friends who visit the patient. Visiting is shown to be influential on patients' recovery. On the other hand, visiting time has been an issue of the medical staff, patients and visitors.

Method.In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 140 nurses working in CCU participated in the study. Data were collected by the use of demographic questionnaire and "The Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Visitation in ICU Questionnaire" (BAVIQ). The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS Version 19.

Findings. Most nurses believed that visiting interferes with direct nursing care (65%), and causes nurses to spend more time in providing information to the patients’ families (82.8%). Most nurses (85%) did not desire to liberalize the visiting policy of their unit.

Conclusion. The results of the study showed that CCU nurses have rather negative viewpoints toward visiting and open visiting policy that is in conflict with emotional needs of patients and their families.