Hospital Etiquette tips

slippintrippn84 · July 2014

Never have I ever had to be in the hospital over night. I've been in the ER for stitches or a checkup after a car accident but never anything that has required a stay beyond a few hours. I'm generally extremely polite to people that are serving/helping me b/c of my many years of working in service base industries, but I'm curious if there is any additional things to be wary of in the medical environment. Are there any etiquette tips out there for proper behavior towards nurses and medical staff? Is there anything that is taboo and will get you on the nurses s***list? Is there anything that gets you bonus points?

raquelynn714 · July 2014

I don't have any tips... But our hospital thank you gift may be against hospital policy, lol. I'm bringing a cigar box filled with assorted shooters for visitors and hospital staff after LO is born. Also bringing M&Ms for the non-drinkers' pleasure. I probably should have asked hospital policy first. Eh, more for me if they can't accept it!

Jennicillin · July 2014

I just try really hard to not "pester" and make sure I always say thank you for everything, like EVERYTHING. They turn off a light "thank you" they change my little smiley face on the board "thank you" they come to tell me about a shift change "thank you"

I also keep a notebook by my bed. If I have a question or a need I write it down and try to ask when they're already making rounds. That way I don't turn into a "call button abuser" Sometimes I'll just walk over to the nurses station instead of making them come to me, etc.... Both my SILs are nurses and have said the same thing, they don't mind serving you because it's their job, they just want to feel appreciated and not taken advantage of

Gifts usually are against hospital policy :-(

Raclla · July 2014

Appreciation goes a long way.

I tried to use the call button almost never. I'd have DH go to their station and ask for them to bring or do x when they made their next rounds.

torooji · July 2014

My guess is that common courtesy and appreciation are sufficient. And just being mindful that you're in an environment where lots of people are (understandably) needy/demanding. I plan to just try to keep the neediness at a minimal and get DH to do as much as possible for me so I don't need to bug the nurses. And I'm bringing some goodies for thank you gifts.

I thought it was hilarious that during my L&D tour the guide mentioned that sometimes people think they are in a hotel. She said we'd be surprised by how many people leave their food trays outside the door, as if it were room service. I figure as long as I don't behave that bad, I'm probably in a pretty good place :P

shutaff · July 2014

I agree that a simple "thank you" goes a long way.

I am also making a basket of little edible goodies and candy for the nurses to share. I've heard of a few people doing it and the nurses really appreciating the snacks, especially since they work long shifts. (I am not doing anything homemade though, because some people are sketched out by eating homemade stuff from people they don't know.)

BeachM · July 2014

I am going to send a thank you card to my favorite nurse from my stay. There are some particular instances that she really helped me deal with and I want her to know how much I appreciated it.

shaylagirl · July 2014

LOVING the ideas ladies.

I was just planning on doing a "mass" Thank You card to my L&D and nursing team, but now I'm wondering, what if I brought a variety pack of pre-wrapped little candies (Hershey's kisses or M&M fun sized stuff, things along those lines) if I could leave that at the nurse's station for them to enjoy along with the card?

I also want and NEED to remember to ask/find out if the valet service at the hospital is allowed to take tips so I can drop some cash in to my bag to give them when we leave.

RachelB104 · July 2014

Someone suggested we bring mini-candy bars. Not just any candy, but chocolate for the nurses, because even though everyone always seems to be on a diet they may cheat and enjoy a bite-size snickers.

First Time Mommy
Team Blue
EDD 8/20/14

slippintrippn84 · July 2014

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to come up with something as a thank you to our Nurses!
Just need to tell DH to behave and not make our room a disaster zone for them. I bought some Poopouri to save the hospital bathroom when DH destroys it. I thought that may be a bit courteous to any nurses or visitors. I'm sure they've seen worse but at least they won't have to worry about us!

Unknown · July 2014

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sekura · July 2014

slippintrippn84 said:

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to come up with something as a thank you to our Nurses!
Just need to tell DH to behave and not make our room a disaster zone for them. I bought some Poopouri to save the hospital bathroom when DH destroys it. I thought that may be a bit courteous to any nurses or visitors. I'm sure they've seen worse but at least they won't have to worry about us!

Poopourri is awesome! My girlfriends and I swear by the stuff!

Jolaine83 · July 2014

I do want to say that the call button is there for a reason. Obviously, don't use it like you are calling a maid or room service, but don't push yourself too far or be uncomfortable for the purpose of 'not bothering' the nurses. That isn't the take away I imagine anyone wants someone to have with this topic. I rarely pushed it for anything until I was in the peds ward with my DD a few times over this past year and they finally got it into my thick skull that when used right, the call button was the best way to contact the nurses. Then they could answer in order needed and you aren't interrupting them when they are mid-task or helping another patient. The only other way in our hospital to find a nurse is to physically track one down (which isn't always easy) or wait for one to come to you (which might not be regular if no meds are needed) - if not abused, they preferred the call button over those in cases that we needed something sooner. Making a list of minor questions to ask when you see them is a great idea though!

Otherwise, when I'm not the patient (when DD is) I make sure everything is cleaned up as much I can before I go. Trash in basket, fridge cleaned out, bathroom towels in laundry basket. I even strip her crib and pile the laundry in the in room basket. However, I won't be going to those extremes in the mother/child ward. I'll have DH clean up the room, but since I'm not as familiar with their ways of taking care of the sheets/pillows/etc, we'll tidy what we are comfortable with and leave the rest.

Just familiar yourself with their policies and don't afraid to ask how best to do something. Ironically, our hospital does have us place our food trays near the door for pickup. The nurses, however, don't do the pickup usually. The food service employees do. It might be hours after you eat when they get there, but it is like a hotel where you leave it by the door, just inside of your room.

RyeRye444 · July 2014

As a nurse, I say the appreciation and thank you's go a long way. Food is awesome, but never expected

Honestly, be nice and personable. Most nurses genuinely want to take care of you, so don't be worried about "bothering" them. But on the same note, if they come to check on you and ask if you need anything, acknowledge them and tell them. I hate having patient's that ignore me when I'm in the room and ask them if they need anything. Some won't even look up and make eye contact. But those same patients are the ones that call 10 minutes later and act like I've neglected them. If the nurse was there 10 minutes ago, and you forgot something, by all means, don't be afraid to call, just be NICE. And be nice to the techs, food service and house keeping.. they do a a lot to make things run and often don't get the credit.

BeachM · July 2014

The call button into my room was linked directly to my nurse's cell phone. She would answer and I could ask my question and then she'd either answer or tell me she'd be there in a minute. Having watched her answer the phone when other patients were calling for 3 days, she never once seemed annoyed by it. I always made it a point to say "Don't rush but we have a question for you when you have a minute" if we needed her to come to the room. The hospital was a baby birthing madhouse and all the nurse's phones were ringing constantly! I don't know how they didn't all go insane!

Danielle0989 · July 2014

I'm so glad this thread was started! When I was in the hospital overnight, I always made sure to say please and thank you. The nurses were super nice, and it never bothered them if I had a stupid question. I didn't think about ordering some pizzas or making a gift basket type thing for them. Now that's on my to-do list!

epreuss85 · July 2014

As a nurse I prefer to be contacted by the call light. Let the person who is answering know EXACTLY what it is that you need. (ie question, meds, drink, or bathroom assistance ect.)
That way the appropriate person can come as quickly as possible!
If you hunt me down in the hall I may be in the middle of a task that I can't interrupt. (It also becomes a privacy issue if you or your family member is lurking outside a room until I'm free)

Often times (if you use the call bell) a coworker can assist the nurse if it is something simple to get the task done quicker.

As long as you remember your manners; you will have a happy nurse!

Jennicillin · July 2014

epreuss85 said:

As a nurse I prefer to be contacted by the call light. Let the person who is answering know EXACTLY what it is that you need. (ie question, meds, drink, or bathroom assistance ect.) That way the appropriate person can come as quickly as possible! If you hunt me down in the hall I may be in the middle of a task that I can't interrupt. (It also becomes a privacy issue if you or your family member is lurking outside a room until I'm free) Often times (if you use the call bell) a coworker can assist the nurse if it is something simple to get the task done quicker. As long as you remember your manners; you will have a happy nurse!

See at the hospital I delivered my last two at (maybe this one will be different) there was a nurses desk that was always manned. I could just swing by there with a need and they could either help me or let my nurse know, so I was never tracking her down or interrupting. They would just pass the info along next time they saw her. If I hit the call button, a light would go on over my door, and only MY nurse would respond. So it always felt less intrusive to just leave her a message at the station. Now I'm wondering what it will be like at this hospital.....

Jolaine83 · July 2014

Jennicillin said:

epreuss85 said:

As a nurse I prefer to be contacted by the call light. Let the person who is answering know EXACTLY what it is that you need. (ie question, meds, drink, or bathroom assistance ect.) That way the appropriate person can come as quickly as possible! If you hunt me down in the hall I may be in the middle of a task that I can't interrupt. (It also becomes a privacy issue if you or your family member is lurking outside a room until I'm free) Often times (if you use the call bell) a coworker can assist the nurse if it is something simple to get the task done quicker. As long as you remember your manners; you will have a happy nurse!

See at the hospital I delivered my last two at (maybe this one will be different) there was a nurses desk that was always manned. I could just swing by there with a need and they could either help me or let my nurse know, so I was never tracking her down or interrupting. They would just pass the info along next time they saw her. If I hit the call button, a light would go on over my door, and only MY nurse would respond. So it always felt less intrusive to just leave her a message at the station. Now I'm wondering what it will be like at this hospital.....

I'd just ask. Because what you explained is completely different than how it is/was at mine. The only desk is at the entry of the units, which for the mother/child unit is actually facing the waiting room outside of the unit. I've never left that unit until being discharged. The only place of contact other than finding them in the halls at our hospital is the nursery. The delivery unit did have a desk that was manned, but since it's for L&D only, it's a limited time that you are there. This is how most of the units in this hospital are and that's how I finally realized I was making life much harder on myself to not use that button when needed.

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