» To understand the ongoing debate about incorporating family-witnessed resuscitation (FWR) in practice
» To recognise the benefits of, and barriers to, implementing FWR during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
» To understand how multidisciplinary collaboration at an educational level, both nationally and globally, could lead to standardisation in FWR policies and guidance, which in turn could enhance family and person-centred care
Cardiac arrest is a traumatic event, both for patients and their family members. Traditionally, healthcare professionals have often been reluctant to offer family members the opportunity to witness cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts. However, professional bodies globally have begun to recommend the use of family-witnessed resuscitation (FWR) during CPR, identifying a range of potential benefits including supporting the patient, increasing family members’ confidence in healthcare professionals and, in some cases, promoting acceptance of the patient’s death.
This article explores the benefits of, and barriers to, the implementation of FWR during CPR. Despite the perceived benefits of FWR identified by professional bodies, healthcare professionals, and patients and their families, the evidence indicates there is ongoing reluctance among some healthcare professionals to incorporate FWR in practice. Therefore, standardised global policies aimed at the multidisciplinary implementation of FWR are required. Additionally, multidisciplinary training and education in CPR should be readily available, particularly in areas where CPR is frequently used, such as emergency departments.
Nursing Standard. 33, 1, 76-81. doi: 10.7748/ns.2018.e11003
CitationBreach J (2018) Exploring the implementation of family-witnessed resuscitation. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2018.e11003
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Published online: 27 March 2018
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