Nurses' attitude when you visit ICU all day

[Blessings28]

Does anyone know how nurses in ICU really feel about having a visitor in patients room all day, having to ask visitor to move constantly or leave the room? I feel like I'm always in the way but I want to be here for my husband.

[LeopardGecko]

When I was able to visit my husband, I felt that most nurses thought that it was good that I was there as I was able to encourage him with his rehabilitation. I did always worry about being in the way, so I would always be quick to ask if they wanted me to move.

[Blessings28 in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thank you for your reply. I am constantly saying "do you want me to move?" I make sure they know I don't want to be in the way.

[Dabofoppo]

I was a Nurse. we feel bad about making you move we want people visiting as it gives us a baseline to work with you know your husband much better than we will and you will be able to pick out signs that he's improving that we haven't noticied you are essentially another helping hand in the sense that you are there for your husband.

[FamilyHistorian]

I was in hospital precovid and my wife visited every day. I think it is fair to say that initially they were slightly wary of her but when they realised she wasn’t there to interfere she became “part of the furniture”. Although there were times when they didn’t want her there and that was more to be sensitive to her feelings.When I stepped down to an ordinary ward the nursing care was no longer 1 to 1 she used to take me to the bathroom which took me over an hour she supervised my physio. In that ward she was allowed in outside visiting time as they realised she could support me so much.

[fishnets in reply to FamilyHistorian]

When my husband was in ICU Kings College, London, he had a visitor all day, every day. He was in a coma for nearly 2 months and I do believe if we had not done this he would not be here today. We played his favourite music (nurses dancing to it) put photos on the wall of all the family, constantly talked to him and sometimes just held his hand. When he was eventually put in a room on his own they were grateful that their attention was not needed so much as we had learned how to help out. It is all part of a healthy recovery. They deserve a medal for putting up with us but we do serve a purpose to our loved ones.

[FamilyHistorian in reply to fishnets]

I was in my own room. When I came round the family had put photographs up - 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 3 grand cats and 2 grand dogs and I had to relearn who they were. Even the nurses were testing me and asking something about them. It was very distressing as I couldn't always answer the questions. Some times they knew more than I did!

[Hidden]

ICU nurses are special and have a different heart than nurses on the GU/Med Surg units (where my mom is now). Once she was allowed visitors in ICU, they never gave us a time limit and offered pillows and a blanket if we were cold. Med/Surg nurses usually have many patients to care for and the rooms are much smaller. So, far, no one has crossed the line asking us to leave or move. They don't want any problemswith me or my family. Trust me

[Slowhands]

My partner was there everyday I was in icu for 3 weeks, which most of it was in a induced coma and from what she has told me she always felt comfortable with the nurses and doctors caring for me. And they always kept her informed of what was going on every step of the way. Only once there was a problem near the end of my time in icu when I was out of the coma and kicked off because I wanted to go outside in the hospital garden due to feeling like i was a prisoner and most of my delirium was based around about being constrained to bed whilst they kept pumping something into me to calm me down. But they came to a arrangement and let me go outside even though it used up alot of there resources. So what i would say is be there as much as you want and be apart of helping your partner back hopefully to a full recovery 😊.