Intensive Care Unit - Open VisitIntroductionTraditionally, concerns about infections and quality of care have led ICUs to impose restrictive visiting policies, but over the past decade- fifteen years, a shift to open visits have taken place as evidence continues to show improvement in patient and family satisfaction when open visits are permitted. Implementing open visitation will not only increase family satisfaction, but will also reduce anxiety, depression, irritability, and social isolation. Family or support people can also provide crucial information about the patient that may not be obtainable by the patient. Finally, the patient's family members/support people often assist with daily care, relieving the nurse from performing other duties. Open visitation should be the expected practice in all intensive care units with limited restrictions so as to continue to improve patient and family satisfaction while providing nurses and patients with periods of “quiet time.” Topic Patient and family satisfaction is an important goal of hospitals around the world. nation, and particularly in intensive care units where patients often cannot communicate their needs due to their health situation. Family satisfaction with ICU care is often influenced by visitation policies and physician-family communication. In a 2012 study conducted by Sundararajan, Sullivan, and Chapman, several issues important to all families in the ICU were discovered, including the need for better communication which it was suggested could be improved through the implementation of flexible visiting policies . “Evidence shows that the presence and unrestricted participation of a support person can increase patient and family satisfaction… half of the paper… they don't have to rely solely on the nurse to meet their needs. In turn, the nurse's workload can be reduced and made easier with well-cared for and satisfied patients. Conclusion While there may appear to be several counterarguments in support of a closed visiting ICU, current research strongly supports the facts of increased patient and nurse satisfaction. with open visitation policies. Research on HIPPA violations, infections, anxiety and increased workload has been updated and renewed with information supporting happier, less stressed and overall better cared for patients, relatives and nurses. Open visitation policies should be universal and accompanied by designated quiet times that are beneficial for patient orientation and family participation throughout the patient's stay..