PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand the essence of experiences of patients and family members during flexible visiting in an intensive care unit (ICU).METHODS: This is a qualitative study using interviews with open ended questions. We used Colaizzi's method of phenomenological interpretation.RESULTS: Flexible visiting in the ICU impacted the patients and their families in various ways. The following categories were extracted from the patients' experiences with flexible visiting: 1) the opportunity to feel the presence of the family and 2) the burden of unrestricted visiting. The following categories were extracted from the families' experiences with flexible visiting: 1) psychological comfort by convenience 2) being aware of health care professionals and critical care nursing in the intensive care unit, and 3) double trouble.CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that flexible visiting in the ICU affected the patients and their families positively and negatively. Therefore, nursing staff need to design psychological and social interventions that address the needs of patients and their families.