Facilitating Family Presence During Resuscitation and Invasive Procedures Throughout the Life Span

Scope of the Problem

To be competent in acute care, nurses must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to manage rapidly changing patient events.^¹ Family presence (FP) is a recognized autonomous nursing intervention,^² whereby nurses facilitate the attendance of family members during resuscitation or an invasive procedure in a patient care location that affords visual or physical contact with the patient. Family presence is an option guided by the patient- and family-centered care model. It is beneficial to patients and families^³ and historically has not interfered with care.^⁴ The COVID-19 pandemic dictated widespread visitation restrictions that banned families from acute care units, with their absence quickly becoming the norm.^⁵⁻⁷ However, the COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023. The pandemic-era FP guidance should not be considered the new standard of care. Family presence should be reestablished to reflect a culture of patient- and family-centered care and safety for all those in need of family support during vulnerable health events.