How to Make a Patient's Overnight Hospital Stay More Comfortable

Описание: If you imagine a comfortable spot, I’m willing to bet that a lot of you might think of your cozy bed. And if you weren’t already, then I bet you’re thinking about it now. Especially after a long day, it’s nice to relax and get a comfortable night of sleep.

But now picture that bed in the hospital. This probably instantly changes your mindset. Staying overnight in a hospital definitely doesn’t sound pleasant, but it’s so important that patients do feel comfortable staying there.

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The first thing is to check the physical comfort of a patient’s room. Hospital beds aren’t like typical beds at home. Patients can actually adjust them to different settings. If they don’t know how to control these, they might just keep it on the same setting even if it’s not pleasant for sleeping. It’s good to show the patient how to work the adjustments so they can set it at whatever feels best.

Next, check the quality of the temperature and air in a patient’s room. It’s difficult to sleep if it’s too hot or too cold. Some patients are more sensitive to temperature especially depending on their condition. So ask if it’s comfortable for them and if not, you can give them a cozy blanket or a bedside fan depending on what they prefer. If they have any breathing conditions that would make them sensitive to air quality, such as asthma or allergies, make sure to monitor this as well.

A dehumidifier or air filter is a good way to help remove any particles which could trigger breathing difficulties. These small steps can help make them more comfortable during their whole stay, but especially when they’re trying to relax and get some sleep.

The next step is to have quiet hours. There’s so much chaos already in a hospital that it can disrupt anyone’s normal resting pattern. This is why it’s helpful to have quiet hours. These are designated times that visitors, staff, and other patients should be aware of the surrounding patients and the noise that they’re making. Another way to boost this is by having dedicated visiting hours to control hall traffic.

Hospitals could also limit how many visitors they allow at a time or how many can stay overnight. Another bonus is to provide headphones to patients. This way they can still watch TV or listen to music while being mindful of those who are resting.

I briefly mentioned visitors for patients. Most experts agree that allowing visitors helps speed up the recovery process. A medical study in Italy found that heart attack patients were less stressed when they could see visitors. Being in the presence of loved ones instills a sense of normalcy during a rather stressful time. But the problem is that the majority of visitors are temporary and they’ll leave at night to get some sleep. It’s helpful to have better access for these guests to stay overnight to be with their loved one in the hospital.

Having comfy chairs or small couches in the patient’s room helps make this possible. If that’s out of the question though for safety and health concerns, then having these furniture options in the waiting room is a positive alternative. Being right down the hall or a flight of stairs away is better than the time it takes to drive to the hospital. This way, the patient can relax knowing that their family or friend is nearby, and the visitor doesn’t have to worry about leaving.

But having visitors overnight brings up privacy concerns. Patients already have so many unfamiliar medical workers coming into their rooms, and they shouldn’t have to worry about a total stranger walking in either. They might have difficulty relaxing if they know that anyone could just walk in at any time. If there’s always a staff member monitoring halls and doing rounds of the floors, they’ll be able to ensure that only necessary workers are entering a patient’s room.

Another concern here is security of personal belongings. Hospitals advise patients to either leave valuables at home or to send them home with a family member. However, not all patients have someone who can come get their items. Or, they’ll at least want to keep their phone with them. This brings me to my final suggestion that hospitals can provide security of these items such as a safe, locked box, or drawer. This is better than leaving them out for anyone to walk into the room and take them if the patient is sleeping or in a procedure.

Even though we don’t expect a hospital to be pleasant, they need to be. It’s demotivating to get better if we always feel uncomfortable, and it’s counterproductive if a patient can’t relax.

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