Family Presence During Resuscitation Efforts

Family Presence During Resuscitation Efforts

Jackson College, School of Nursing

Sara Conrad

1
Family Presence During Resuscitation Efforts

Abstract

Family presence during resuscitation efforts is a very controversial topic in health care.

The concept of family presence during resuscitation efforts was started in 1982 here in Jackson,

MI at Foote Memorial Hospital (Brasel, 2016). The Emergency Nurses Association adopted this

concept in 1993 and allowed family presence during certain scenarios (excluding intoxicated

family members, families exhibiting aggressive behavior, and those who were emotionally

unstable (Brasel, 2016). The theory behind this is that it will help to decrease family members

complicated grieving by allowing them closure. Studies have shown that allowing family

membranes to be present decreases their anxiety, gives the client relief by witnessing that

everything possible is being done, and also allows the family member to provide comfort to their

loved one during this time (Guzzetta, 2016). Studies have also shown a decrease in PTSD and

traumatic grief in family members who are allowed at the beside during resuscitation (Guzzetta,

2016). On the other hand, some family members choose to remain outside the room while

resuscitation is taking place. They wish to protect themselves from the images they may see and

to not remember their family member that way (Stefano, 2016). Therefore, it is important to let

the family member choose how they would like to participate. Giving them a choice gives them

the ability to control their own grieving process if resuscitation is not successful.

2
Family Presence During Resuscitation Efforts

References

(PDF) Family-Witnessed Resuscitation: Bereavement Outcomes in an Urban Environment.

(2011). Retrieved November 10, 2020, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51061979_Family-
Witnessed_Resuscitation_Bereavement_Outcomes_in_an_Urban_Environment

Brasel, K., Entwistle, J., & Sade, R. (2016, November). Should Family Presence Be Allowed
During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation? Retrieved November 10, 2020, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5094278/

De Stefano, C., Normand, D., Jabre, P., Azoulay, E., Kentish-Barnes, N., Lapostolle, F., . . .
Adnet, F. (2016, June 2). Family Presence during Resuscitation: A Qualitative Analysis
from a National Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial. Retrieved November 10, 2020,
from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4890739/

Erogul, M., Likourezos, A., Meddy, J., Terentiev, V., Davydkina, D., Monfort, R., . . . Marshall,
J. (2020, August 24). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Family-witnessed Resuscitation of
Emergency Department Patients. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7514396/

Guzzetta, C. (2016). Family Presence During Resuscitation and Invasive Procedures. Critical
Care Nurse, 36(1), e11-e14. https://doi-org.ezproxy.jccmi.edu/10.4037/ccn2016980

Walsh, N. (2013, March 13). Watching CPR Helps Ease Family's Grief. Retrieved November 10,
2020, from https://www.medpagetoday.org/psychiatry/anxietystress/37869?vpass=1