title: Innovative solutions--the art of improvisation: patient and family preferences for visitation in critical care.
abstract: Critical care nurses identified that, although a liberal visitation policy was followed, patients and families occasionally expressed preferences for verbal communication, rather than have the visitor physically present in the unit. Previously tested communication devices interfered with operating equipment resulting in poor reception. The purpose of this project was to find an effective method for patients to verbally communicate with visitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing at the Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701-4799, USA. lheitman@semo.edu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heitman
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McClard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*