Because an intensive care unit is organised differently from most hospital wards, you will usually need to introduce yourself to the reception staff when you arrive. The care team will explain how the unit operates before directing you to the area or room where your loved one is being cared for.
ICU care involves many procedures that must be carefully coordinated. To protect the patient’s comfort and privacy, you may be asked to leave the room while care is being provided.
Patients in intensive care are particularly vulnerable, so following hygiene measures is essential to reduce the risk of infection. In some situations, the patient may have an infection that could spread to others, and the measures will also protect you. During visits, you will be asked to:
Always clean your hands whenentering and leaving the patient’s room.
Anyone with a contagious illnessshould avoid visiting. If in doubt, or if you have any symptoms, wear a mask.
Flowers and plants can carry microorganisms that are harmless to healthy people but dangerous for vulnerable patients in intensive care.
Keeping your hands clean: the essential rules
Many infections caused by viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms are spread by contact with contaminated hands. This is why hand hygiene is essential when entering the room of a vulnerable person—and when leaving the room of someone with a transmissible infection. Door handles and other surfaces touched by many people should be treated as contaminated surfaces, and you should clean your hands after touching them.
Always wash your hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty. Alcohol-based hand rub can be used as often as necessary when hands are visibly clean. To avoid bringing microorganisms into the room, clean your hands when you enter and avoid touching your own face or other personal surfaces as much as possible. If you do touch them, clean your hands again before returning to the patient. Conversely, if the person you are visiting is carrying a transmissible microorganism, clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub between touching the patient or their belongings and touching other surfaces or your own face. Always clean your hands when leaving the room.
Why might you need to wear a mask?
Two main types of mask are used in hospitals:
Surgical masks
FFP2 respirators
They differ in their shape and level of filtration. A surgical mask helps contain respiratory droplets and protects against larger particles. An FFP2 respirator is used when protection is needed from certain viruses or other microorganisms carried in smaller airborne particles.
There are two main reasons why you may be asked to wear a mask: to protect the patient from an infection carried by a visitor, or conversely to protect visitors from an infection carried by the patient. If you have symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever or digestive symptoms, it is best not to visit a loved one who is particularly vulnerable. If in doubt, ask for a mask before entering the room. If you are required to wear one, it is essential to keep it on throughout your time in the room. For once, no kisses on the cheek!
What about gowns?
A gown may be used to protect your clothing when the patient is carrying certain particularly resistant microorganisms. Conversely, if the patient’s immune system is severely weakened, the gown protects them from microorganisms that might be present on your clothes.
Visits from family and friends are extremely valuable to patients, but it is important to respect the limits set by the unit. An ICU room is a place where the patient and visitors spend time together, but it is also a clinical care environment. Most units limit the number of visitors who can be in a room at the same time for several reasons: to reduce the risk of introducing infection, to allow staff to respond quickly in an emergency and continue providing care at any time of day, and to avoid overstimulating a patient who needs rest and calm during their intensive care stay.
Katia’s storyPlanning visits
It is important to think carefully about who visits the patient. Anyone in intensive care is in a highly vulnerable situation and may not wish to be seen in that condition. It may be best to limit visits to the people closest to them.
Intensive care often requires patients to wear only a light hospital gown. Although the care team takes great care to preserve their privacy, the patient may move and become uncovered. Please make sure your visit is announced before entering the room so that the team can protect the patient’s dignity and privacy.
To respect the privacy of all other patients in the unit, you will also be asked not to wait in the corridors. If you are asked to leave the patient’s room, please go to the waiting area. If you need to call the team to your loved one’s bedside, use the patient’s call bell; never enter another patient’s room to look for a member of staff.
Children are often allowed to visit an intensive care unit, but the visit must be carefully supported. The child should have expressed a wish to see the patient and should be prepared by the team, first through simple explanations and then with support when entering the room. It is also important to talk with the child afterwards so that they are not left alone with images or feelings that are difficult to process. Remember that children are not always affected by the same things as adults.
Children can also make drawings for the patient, which may be displayed in the room.
Learn more about supporting children who visit someone in intensive care.