• Renee Samples Twibell, Shannon Craig, Debra Siela, Sherry Simmonds, and Cynthia Thomas.
• Renee Samples Twibell is an associate professor at Ball State University School of Nursing and a nurse researcher at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, Indiana. Shannon Craig is a faculty member at Ball State University School of Nursing and a staff nurse at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Debra Siela is an associate professor at Ball State University School of Nursing. Sherry Simmonds is a clinical research coordinator at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Cynthia Thomas is an associate professor at Ball State University School of Nursing. rtwibell@iuhealth.org rtwibell@bsu.edu.
• Am. J. Crit. Care. 2015 Nov 1; 24 (6): e108-15.

BackgroundAlthough patients' families want to be invited to the bedside of hospitalized loved ones during crisis events, little is known about patients' perceptions of family presence.ObjectiveTo explore adult inpatients' perceptions of family presence during resuscitation, near-resuscitation, and unplanned invasive cardiac procedures shortly after the life-threatening event.MethodsIn this qualitative study, data were collected by interviews at least 13 hours after a crisis event and before hospital discharge. Data were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes.ResultsFrom the bedside interviews (N = 48), the overarching theme of "being there" was explained more specifically as "being there is beneficial," "being there is hard," "families in the way," and "desire for control." Most participants preferred family presence, although preferences varied with types of crisis events, patients' predictions of family members' responses, and the nature of family relationships. New perspectives emerged about patients' decision making related to family presence.ConclusionsThis study extends existing knowledge about factors that influence the decision-making processes of hospitalized patients regarding family presence during a crisis event. Health care professionals can provide support as patients ponder difficult decisions about who to have present and can reduce patients' fears that families might interfere with the life-saving efforts.©2015 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

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