Abstract
AIMS: To describe the impact of family members' presence on student nurse performance in a witnessed resuscitation scenario. To explore student nurses' attitudes to simulated family-witnessed resuscitation and their views about its place in clinical practice. BACKGROUND: Family-witnessed resuscitation remains controversial worldwide. Hospital implementation remains inconsistent despite professional organisation support. Systematic reviews of international literature indicate family members wish to be involved and consulted; healthcare professionals express concerns about being observed while resuscitating. Student nurse perspectives have not been addressed. DESIGN: Qualitative, focus groups. METHODS: Participants: UK university second-year student nurses (n=48) who participated in simulated resuscitation scenarios (family member absent, family member present but quiet or family member present but distressed). Data generation 2014: focus group interview schedule-five open-ended questions and probing techniques. Audio recordings transcribed, analysed thematically. Research ethics approval via University Research Ethics committee. FINDINGS: Overarching theme=students' sense making-making sense of situation (practically/professionally), of themselves (their skills/values) and of others (patients/family members). Students identify as important team leader allocating tasks, continuity of carer and number of nurses needed. Three orientations to practice are identified and explored-includes rule following, guidance from personal/proto-professional values and paternalistic protectionism. DISCUSSION: We explore issues of students' fluency of response and skills repertoire to support family-witnessed resuscitation; explanatory potential to account for the inconsistent uptake of family-witnessed resuscitation. Possible future lines of inquiry include family members' gaze as a motivational trigger, and management of guilt.