• Kelly Tudor, Jill Berger, Barbara J Polivka, Rachael Chlebowy, and Beena Thomas.
• Kelly Tudor is a CRNA/DNP student at Fairfield University, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Jill Berger is director of patient care operations, Norton Healthcare Institute for Nursing, Louisville, Kentucky. Beena Thomas is a staff nurse at Norton Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky. Barbara J. Polivka is Shirley B. Powers Endowed Chair and professor, University of Louisville School of Nursing, Louisville, Kentucky. Rachael Chlebowy is a staff nurse at University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky.
• Am. J. Crit. Care. 2014 Nov 1;23(6):e88-96.

BackgroundAlthough strong evidence indicates that the presence of a patient's family during resuscitation has a positive effect on the family, the practice is still controversial and is not consistently implemented.ObjectivesTo explore nurses' experience with resuscitation, perceptions of the benefits and risks of having a patient's family members present, and self-confidence in having family presence at their workplace. Differences in demographic characteristics and relationships between nurses' perceptions of self-confidence and perceived risks and benefits of family presence were evaluated.MethodsThe study was descriptive, with a cross-sectional survey design. A convenience sample of 154 nurses working in inpatient and outpatient units at an urban hospital were surveyed. The 63-item survey included 2 previously validated scales, demographic questions, and opinion questions.ResultsNurses' self-confidence and perceived benefit of family presence were significantly related (r = 0.54; P < .001). Self-confidence was significantly greater in nurses who had completed training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, had experienced 10 or more resuscitation events, were specialty certified, or were members of nurses' professional organizations. Barriers to family presence included fear of interference by the patient's family, lack of space, lack of support for the family members, fear of trauma to family members, and performance anxiety.ConclusionsChanging the practice of family presence will require strengthening current policy, identifying a team member to attend to the patient's family during resuscitation, and requiring nurses to complete education on evidence that supports family presence and changes in clinical practice.©2014 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

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