Over the past several years I have spent quite a bit of time visiting people who were very near and dear to me in hospitals. Before this initiation, I thought that if you were in the hospital, all your needs would be met by people eager to wait on you, no mistakes would be made, and everything would turn out fine. This may be true in fantasy land, but my recent encounters with the medical system have taught me that if a loved one is hospitalized, you need to stay intimately involved and you need to let the doctor and nursing staff know you intend to play a major role in the care and treatment of the patient.
It seems that staffing levels have been drastically reduced in our hospitals and if your loved one is seriously ill or undergoing surgery, I strongly advise that you, other relatives, church members, friends, or sitters stay in the hospital with the patient. This assures that the patient not only has immediate help for mundane needs (getting water, going to the bathroom, changing positions, etc.), but has someone on hand to take an active interest in the ongoing treatment. I encourage you to ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Asking questions not only encourages more respectful treatment of the patient, but it helps prevent medical mistakes.
I found it helpful to keep a notepad in the room. You can take notes on the doctor’s comments so that you can remember them later, so that you can properly recount them to the next sitter, and so that you can visit with the doctor or doctors about them at a later time if something changes. Make sure you note the medications given and the time and reason it was given. If medications are changed, find out who ordered the change, why it was changed, how this medication is different from the previous medication, and what you can expect from the medication. Take down all the vital signs. It not only helps to have a documented record, but I believe it helps keep the nurses and doctors on their toes.
If you have to step out of the room for an errand or to grab a bite to eat, be sure to let the nurse know you are leaving and leave your cell phone number with the nurses or post it on the door so that if a doctor comes while you are out, he has access to you. I have found that doctors almost always call to give an update on the patient if you leave a contact number.
I have also found that having a bucket of candy in the room can do wonders in regards to getting nurse and aides to frequent your room at all hours of the day and night. While they are there, you have the opportunity to ask them about anything from getting new sheets to additional medication.
Finally, the universal language of kindness applies in hospital rooms. From the parking lot attendant to the orderly to the doctor, it is amazing what a small dose of kindness can accomplish.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
