Nurses During Resuscitation

Resuscitation is defined as an “attempt to restore patients’ vital signs by mechanical, physiological and pharmacological means in emergency situations such as cardiac or respiratory arrest” (Leung & Chow, 2012). Families could benefit emotionally and spiritually because they will understand what it took to save their loved one. According to Guzzetta, “only 5% of critical care units in the United States, 8% in Canada, and 7% in Europe have written policies that allow family presence” (Guzzetta, 2016), despite approval. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) defines patient-centered care competency as “recogniz[ing] the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for the patient’s preferences, values, and needs” (QSEN, 2014).

This competency impacts one’s personal nursing practice by being knowledgeable about the hospital policies concerning this matter. When a family questions if they can be present, the nurse should be able to explain to the family members what may happen during the resuscitation. The nurse should educate the family as to what would be expected of them and not interrupt the health care team as they do their job. Potential complications

of having family present can include “interference with patient care, emotional distress and psychological trauma of the family” (Powers, 2016). As a nurse, one should discuss the options of whether the patient would like to have family present and then discuss this with the family as well. This discussion should also be based on the hospital’s policies and procedures. Nurses are the advocates and facilitators for the patients and their family and their requests. As nurses, one should always promote beneficence.
This competency impacts the practice of nursing in the following ways knowing the hospital policy and if not what one can do to have a policy in place, educating the family about the process and overall benefits to the patient. This will promote advocacy for the patient and the family. If a policy is not in place, one must act and collaborate with the unit and other nurses, so that a policy will be established. As a nurse, one can “use recommended guidelines as a template to develop your written policies and procedures” (Guzzetta, 2016).
The patient and family can benefit with family presence during resuscitation such as the ability of the families understanding the “severity of life-threating events, facilitates communication, supports grieving, allows families to see the efforts of the care team” (Twibell, 2015). Patients and family members become close to a nurse during care, this makes them more likely to validate their wishes. According to Powers, patients “view nurses as their advocates, and nurses are in a unique position to ensure that the needs of the patients”.
Nurses strengthen communication between family members about the patient’s wishes and educate the family on the resuscitation as it happens.

This also strengthens communication by building a connection with the family. A connection of the nurse understanding the point of view of the family and the patient. The connection is what ultimately benefits the patient because problems can be decreased. The nurse can help the family cope with grieving due to them having a better understanding that all measures were taken during resuscitation. Nurses will do greater good if they are “meeting psychosocial needs in a time of crisis” which in turn “exemplifies care driven by the needs of patients and their families” (Guzzetta,

2016).
Nurses should always be advocates to their patients and families in any instance, especially during a difficult moment such as resuscitation. Nurses should be the best communicators and advocates for the patient and their family in this type of situation. The patient’s and their family’s well-being is important. Nurses, therefore, should give the patient and their families the option of having family present during resuscitation if policy permits.