5 Tips from Nurses on Surviving Your Hospital Stay

Life is uncertain, and any health emergencies can occur at any time. And doctors might recommend you stay at the hospital for a few days, even for minor problems, to ensure a quick recovery. Having to stay at a hospital is a very daunting thought. There are many health-related risks present in the hospital. Like surgical errors, medication mix-ups, falls, etc. But if a person prepares in advance, they can have a rather safe stay at the hospital.

A nurse is the best healthcare provider to look up to for tips on surviving your stay at a hospital. They will be with you every step of your hospital stay. The moment you enter the hospital, a nurse will fill out your health-related information and take care of you throughout your stay, and when you leave, they will still be there, ready to take care of more patients. Here are five tips from nurses on surviving your hospital stay.

• Cooperate With the Staff:

Though you will get stressed and frustrated because of your health problem, this doesn’t mean you should not respect or not cooperate with the staff and healthcare providers. Remember, all the staff is there to help you. The doctors and the nurses are all qualified professionals who are there to ensure your speedy recovery. Cooperate with them, do as they ask you to, tell them clearly how you feel, openly communicate with them, and ask questions.

The healthcare professional you will spend the most time with is the nurse. Nurses are there to guide you about your medicines, health conditions, and prognosis. Listen to them carefully and ask questions in case of confusion. Nurses are highly qualified professionals; some working nurses are even enrolled in nursing online master degrees, which shows their increased capability and competency. When you cooperate with the staff, your stay will become much easier, and you will even recover faster.

• Play An Active Role:

When it comes to your health, you are the one that must play the most active role. Only you truly know what you are feeling at any given moment. Doctors and nurses find it helpful when patients participate actively in their care. For example, your doctor might have told you they will discontinue a specific medication. But their orders didn’t make it to the charts yet, and the nurse will give you the medication that the doctor said to discontinue. In that case, tell the nurse about the whole thing; let them cross-check it with the doctor. The shifts of the nurses are changing all the time; a new one might not be familiar with your treatment and medicines, etc.

When you are being prescribed medicine, ask how it will help you recover, how it’s different from your previous medication, etc. When the nurse comes in to check your vitals, have a look at all your critical information each time so that you are also aware of changes in your blood pressure, weight, etc.

Taking an active part in your recovery shifts your perspective, so instead of worrying about your health setback, your mind is busy thinking about the recovery process.

• Have a Support System:

It’s of utmost importance that you have someone to always look after you. You are vulnerable when going through a health problem, and the support of loved ones is always needed at such times. You should ask your friend or any family member to stay with you or ask different people to change places, but ensure to have someone with you all the time.

The person staying with you will not only provide you with moral support and encouragement, but they will also be your advocate. When a patient cannot communicate with the doctor, the person staying with them does that. Similarly, there is a need for filling a lot of documents, running from counter to counter, staying awake till the doctor’s round to ask a question, finding a nurse or a doctor in case of an emergency, etc. You might forget a few important documents; your loved one can get them for you. They can buy the prescribed medicines, etc. You need someone for these things. Apart from all this, their kind words and company will also be very helpful.

• Take Timely Action:

Most patients get angry when they don’t receive assistance right away. Patients complain that the nurse or the helper didn’t come in when they pressed the help button. The truth is, everyone is super busy fulfilling their responsibilities, as, say, a single nurse is looking after so many patients simultaneously rushing from ward to ward from one ER to another, going up and down different floors. So what you can do is take timely action. When you anticipate you might need help, call for it right away, instead of waiting till the last moment when the need for help turns into an emergency.

For example, a patient is usually attached to equipment and machines with tubes, drips, etc. If they have an urge to use the bathroom, they will need a nurse’s help to take the drips and tubes out safely so they can go to the bathroom. If you are in a very serious situation, you might even need the nurse’s help to go to the bathroom. In such a case, call for help before the urge to go to the bathroom becomes irresistible. You should keep in mind when the shifts normally change. So if the shift is going to end soon, you must call for help immediately or wait for the shift to end and the new shift to start.

• Bring a List of Medicines You Are Taking:

If you are already taking some medicines, bring in a drug list. Sometimes, patients are already taking a prescribed medication, which determines what other medicines they must avoid. If you don’t tell your doctor about your medication, they unknowingly might prescribe you a medicine that might react with what you are already taking. You need to communicate with the doctor about your health record and medical history.

If you have any allergies, you must tell your doctor about them too. If such vital information is unclear, there is a chance of misdiagnosis and mistreatment. In such cases, your health will deteriorate even more, leading to serious consequences.

Conclusion:

Anyone can face a health emergency, forcing them to stay at a hospital. To survive your hospital stay, you need some tips. And nurses are the best people to get such advice from. Look at these five tips from nurses to ensure a safe stay at the hospital.