Family Visitation in the Postanesthesia Care Unit: Implementation of a Nurse Liaison Role

The purpose of this article was to report on the nurse liaison role developed at a 400-bed community hospital in response to a previously published best practice project on the effect of family visitation in the PACU on family member anxiety. The evidence resulted in the development of the nurse liaison role, which changed nursing practice and involved each area of perioperative services as we embarked on family-centered care (FCC). The nurse liaison program has served as a model for other hospital departments as well as area hospitals. Guidelines for implementation of the program, which included FCC, are discussed as well as job guidelines, job descriptions, challenges, and outcomes.