Critical Care Nurses' Intention to Allow Family Presence during Resuscitation

Traditionally, family members have been prohibited from being present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This exclusionary practice was questioned by a hospital in Michigan in which two families refused to leave the sides of their loved ones. This event marked the beginning of the family presence during resuscitation movement. The purpose of this study is to explore whether attitudes/behavioral beliefs about FPDR coupled with demographic variables predicted critical care nurses’ intention to allow FPDR. A descriptive correlational research design was used in this study. The Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale (FPR-BS) was used to measure attitudes/behavioral beliefs towards FPDR. Intentions to allow FPDR were measured with a yes or no answer. Level of education and specialty certification were indicators of critical care nurses’ intention to allow FPDR. A positive relationship existed between level of education and attitudes/behavioral beliefs toward FPDR. Specialty certification and attitudes/behavioral beliefs were the best predictors for critical care nurses’ intention to allow FPDR.