Purposes of Patient Visits

• To provide moral support to the patient and their relatives, and to contribute to the treatment process.
• To help ensure that some of the patient's needs are met from outside the hospital.
• To communicate with the physician and obtain information.

Patients for Whom Visits Are Not Appropriate

• Patients being treated in intensive care units,
• Patients who have just come out of surgery,
• Patients for whom the physician has not permitted visits.

People Who Should Not Visit Patients

• Children under 10 years of age,
• Individuals with an active respiratory or contagious disease,
• Individuals at high risk of infection in the hospital.

Points to Consider During Patient Visits

• Visits should be made within the designated visiting hours and should not exceed 5–7 minutes.
• No more than two visitors should be present at a patient's bedside, and visitors should not sit on patient beds.
• Treatment equipment (IV sets, oxygen regulators, monitors, etc.) must not be touched.
• People should not speak loudly in the presence of the patient.
• Food items not approved by the physician should not be brought to the patient; in special circumstances, the physician should be consulted.
• Patient privacy must be respected.
• Gifts such as books and newspapers may be preferred for patients.
• Discouraging words and behaviors should be avoided during visits.
• Unnecessary and persistent requests for visits outside visiting hours should not be made.
• At the end of visiting hours, patient rooms should be vacated without the need for any warning.

Acceptance of Flowers

• Flowers are accepted in patient rooms.

Restriction of Patient Visits Outside Working Hours (After 22:00)

• Given the staffing levels at night, security and control issues may arise.
• In order to allow patients to rest better, to avoid disturbing other patients in the ward, and to respect patient rights, patient visits are not permitted after 22:00.