Meeting the needs of visitors--a practical approach.
Large amounts of research have been carried out into the needs of visitors to intensive therapy units and these needs are now well established. These needs may be categorised as emotional, personal and cognitive. What is now required is a quick and easy means by which individual intensive care units can judge their success (or failure) in meeting these needs and a knowledge of strategies to deal with any failures. This paper addresses these issues. Firstly, reasons why nurses should meet visitor needs are listed, secondly these needs are described and thirdly a study by the author is discussed. This study describes a simple yes/no questionnaire approach which may be used to assess the success with which needs are met. A study of the type described here is within the scope of any intensive care unit. Finally, these needs are examined in detail and methods by which these needs may be met are described.
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Dyer
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*