The impact of education on nurses' beliefs regarding family presence in a resuscitation room.

Allowing families to be present in the resuscitation room is an issue in sudden death situations. This study examined whether or not a class given to critical care and emergency nurses could change nurses' beliefs regarding the presence of family members in the resuscitation room. A convenience sample of 46 nurses was given a class regarding the benefits of families in the resuscitation room, present law, hospital policy, and how to implement this nursing action. The study used a quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a pre- and posttest design. It was found that nurses' beliefs regarding families in the resuscitation room during sudden death situations changed to a statistically significant level after attending a class. The study shows that an educational class can make a difference in the beliefs of nurses caring for families of sudden death victims.