Innovative solutions: family presence at codes: a protocol for an oncology unit

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events is a practice with varied opinions among healthcare professionals regarding its implementation and effectiveness.
• Existing guidelines from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) provided a foundation for developing a site-specific protocol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To operationalize and evaluate a protocol for family presence during cardiopulmonary events (codes) within an oncology nursing setting.
• To adapt existing ENA guidelines to the specific practice environment and culture of the medical center's units.

Main Methods:

• Development of a protocol for family presence during codes, based on ENA guidelines.
• Modification of the protocol to align with the hospital's current practice environment and unit culture.
• Creation of evaluation surveys for both family members who were present and the healthcare staff involved in the process.

Main Results:

• The study focused on the creation and evaluation methodology of a family presence protocol.
• Data collection via surveys for families and staff was initiated to assess the process.

Conclusions:

• A structured protocol was developed to guide family presence during codes, addressing previous ambiguities.
• The evaluation plan using surveys for families and staff is crucial for assessing the protocol's efficacy and informing future practice adjustments.