Nursing interventions for families of cardiac surgery patients.

Caring for the cardiac surgery patient includes intervening with the patient's family members. It is important for the nurse to acquire the knowledge base to implement appropriate interventions with family members. An intervention program was designed to meet the needs of family members of cardiac surgery patients based on a compilation of previous research data. This program included providing educational classes for the nursing staff as well as giving written information and support to the family member while visiting in the intensive care unit. A visiting intervention checklist was given to each nurse to initiate for each family member at all visits. Family members who received the intervention program reported higher satisfaction of needs and lower anxiety levels than those family members who did not receive the program.