Abstract: As the healthcare system moves toward a consumer-driven paradigm, visiting hours for family and significant others of the intensive care unit patient have become a topic of interest and discussion. Research since the 1970s has generated controversy and speculation over the ideal visiting practices in the adult intensive care unit. The aim of this dissertation was to examine the benefits for the patient, family members and nurses of appropriate visiting practices within intensive care areas in order to establish if open visiting is the best regime for patients in the adult intensive care unit (ICU). This dissertation explores visiting practices in adult critical care unit settings. Specifically, the benefits of visiting for patients, and the factors that may impede or facilitate visiting practices within the ICU were critically discussed. These factors included the benefits and disadvantages of open visiting, and the nurse as an influential factor in visiting. These areas linked together to form the basis for consideration of visiting in the ICU. Review of existing literature pertaining to visiting in the ICU indicated that patients wanted open visiting hours yet also indicated that they would like some visiting restrictions. Nurses appeared to value family input into care and were aware of patient and family needs, even though they may restrict visiting to suit their own work practices. Family members can provide the patient with psychological support, provide important historical data, assist the nurse with selected aspects of physical care, and actively encourage the patient's efforts to recover. The outcome of this exploration is the recommendation of an open visiting policy tailored to individual patients, as, the author suggests, this would foster nursing practice and ultimately benefit patients and their families.