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Does your hospital allow family members to visit patients in the Recovery Room/PACU?
My hospital does, and some nurses really do not approve. It is all that I have ever known, so I am used to it. I absolutely think that parents of young children should be back there. Also when we have had confused or developmentally disabled adults in PACU, a familiar face and voice truly helped them calm down and relax. However, if a patient is asleep or we have not yet gotten their pain under control, I would rather wait to bring a family member back. What do you think?
I agree. I recently had surgery for a strangulated hernia. I told my husband to tell our children not to come to visit for a day or two. However, my youngest daughter and her husband were there when I came out of surgery (at midnight). I was certainly not at my best (not coherent, I think), and I didn't like them seeing me that way.
ReplyDeleteWhere I work it depends on who is working. Like you said some people should be able to come back, while others never.
ReplyDeleteAs a patient, when I've had procedures where I've had anesthesia, I definitely prefer to have my husband in recovery with me. If I need something, I'm more comfortable asking my husband than asking the nurse (who has 73 other things she needs to be doing). I know I have someone's undivided attention and that someone is there with me so I don't feel so...lost. And, it's just calming to have a familiar face there when I finally get my eyes to open and focus.
ReplyDeletePersonally, if it were ME, I would rather have no one there. I babble on and on and do a lot of things I don't remember later, and I would appreciate my husband not there to witness.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I was in PACU with my elderly mom after a procedure and was able to get instructions that needed to be clarified - my mother never remembered a thing!
As long as family doesn't mess with the equipment or steal stuff...or get in the way...ONE person would be ok.
People steal stuff?
ReplyDeleteNo one has stolen anything that I know of. We are not supposed to leave narcotics lying around of course, but some nurses do on occasion. I guess someone could take a bedpan or something? People used to steal everything they could get their hands on in the ER. We got TV's in each room in the main ER, but all the remotes were gone within a week!
ReplyDeleteI think it is hard for family members to see their loved one in pain. So waiting for the right time is important. However, denying them the right at all would be wrong. I agree with you. I am a new follower.
ReplyDeleteKat, it is hard to find just the right time to bring in a family member. Fortunately most family members are pretty understanding. Thanks for the follow!
ReplyDeleteI have worked units that anything that wasn't tacked down was stolen. I can remember a midwife that went to a flea market and she found a speculum with our hospital's name engraved on it. That was south of the border in California.....
ReplyDeletethe hospitals I've worked will only allow family in with children & the mentally handicapped. They were open rooms, with only curtains between patients, so there was a big privacy issue. Coming out of anesthesia, changing linen & dressings, using bedpans, etc. Visitors tend to look around, so they were kept to a minimum.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea some hospitals don't let family into the back. I can imagine kids would be nervous with so many new faces! There's only so much cartoon character scrubs can do to soothe nerves.
ReplyDeleteThat is really nice to hear. thank you for the update and good luck. best cardiology stethoscope
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