Factors associated with nurses’ perceptions, self-confidence, and invitations of family presence during resuscitation in the intensive care unit: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Family presence during resuscitation is not widely implemented in clinical practice. Prior research about nurse factors that may influence their decision to invite family members to remain in the room during resuscitation is contradictory and inconclusive. Objectives To describe intensive care unit nurses’ perceptions, self-confidence, and invitations of family presence during resuscitation, and to evaluate differences according to nurse factors. Design A cross-sectional survey design was used for descriptive and correlational analyses. Setting Data collection occurred online. Participants A convenience sample of 395 nurses working in intensive care units across the United States was obtained. Methods Participants completed a survey to collect personal, professional, and workplace information. The Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale and Family Presence Self-confidence Scale were administered, and frequency of inviting family members to be in the room during resuscitation was collected by self-report. Following descriptive analysis of univariate distributions, a series of hierarchical OLS regression analyses was used to identify which personal, professional, or workplace factors yielded the largest unique impact on nurse perceptions, self-confidence, and invitations of family presence during resuscitation. Results Despite high frequency of performing resuscitative care, one-third of participants had never invited family members to be in the room during resuscitation during their careers, and another 33% had invited family members to be present just 1–5 times. Having had clinical experience with family presence during resuscitation was the strongest predictor of positive perceptions, higher self-confidence, and increased invitations. In addition, having received education on family presence during resuscitation and a written facility policy were found to be key professional and workplace predictors of perceptions and invitations. Conclusions Nurses who work in a facility with a policy on family presence during resuscitation, are educated on it, and have experienced it in the clinical setting are more likely to have positive perceptions and higher self-confidence, and to invite family members to be in the room during resuscitation with increased frequency. Nurses in leadership roles should create policies for their units and provide education to nurses and other healthcare providers. Due to the apparent importance of clinical experience with family presence during resuscitation, it is recommended to initially provide this experience using simulation and role modeling.