Reducing Undue Burden on Nurses Related to Limited Care Partner Visitation: Lessons Learned for the Future

The purpose of this article was to report best practices for reducing undue burden on nurses related to limited care partner visitation.

Care partners are beneficial to hospitalized patients. Restricted care partner visitation not only impacts patients and care partners but also affects nurses.

Using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model, best practices for reducing nurse burden during periods of restricted visitation were evaluated.

Best practices include evidence-based visiting policies, technology to facilitate communication, creation of a communication liaison role or team, and communication skills training for nurses.

Nursing leaders should proactively prevent the harmful impact that visitor restrictions have on nurses.