[mattsmom81]

Originally Posted by KaroSnowQueen

But state or JACHO are going to have to come down on the powers that be before they turn loose of the extra dollars those double rooms are bringing in.

Yes its all about the revenue. And when families complain that roomates are hearing confidential info, the managers will look for a nurse to blame for it. A nurse must have done something wrong.

[julieK]

A private room is always preferable, of course, but I work Oncology and our private rooms are exclusively reserved for our neutropenic patients. I can't stand it when a patient waltzes onto the unit and asks for a private room and then gives attitude when we tell him/her that none are available. I know I can't expect everyone to understand the basics of nursing/infection control, but I do get a little impatient.

-Julie

[Kyriaka]

6. Easier to make the patient comfortable in aspects to temparture in the room, lighting... ect.

______________
as a patient this is a huge issue. One time when I was in the hospital, I was put in a double room. It turned out that the other person was afraid of the dark! So the overhead light had to be on all night long!! I was much younger then, if I had been older I would have complained.

[mercyteapot]

Double rooms s**k for all the reasons cited, and for the patient's comfort too. Back in 1985, my Mom had a double room when she had a hysterectomy, and her roommate smoked! I don't think that's allowed in any hospital room anymore (am I wrong? I live in CA, and it hasn't been legal here for years) but I had to share a room when our son was born. A brand new, state of the art women's hospital opened up next door just 6 months after that, but the only way that affected me was I had the pleasure of listening to the construction noise. My roommate had an abusive boyfriend, and the social worker kept coming in to talk to her. Here I was, delighted with my new baby, but listening to this poor woman's most painful experiences. It was unpleasant. I remember she managed to finagle an extra day's stay in the hospital and tried to talk them in to letting her stay again the day I was released (we both had C-sections, her the day before me). We had Nurse Ratchet attending that day, though, and she wasn't buying it, lol. I just thought it was very sad that she wanted to stay in that yucky, overcrowded hospital rather than take her new baby home. I also got lots of flowers, because neither my or my husband's families live near us and had lots of friends that came to visit. It ended up feeling like an embarrassment of riches. I never even saw the baby's father, let alone anyone else come to call. I hope the next time I need to be hospitalized, its in a room by myself.

[Kyriaka]

Probably the worst case I have heard of was that years ago (my mother told me this story about when she had me). There was a woman whose baby died at birth. She was put in a double room on the maternity floor and had to endure all the proud and happy relatives visiting the other woman! It wasnt for a day either. It was for a week!!

I am sure (and hope) this is not done any longer.

I know when my son was born without a full skull they were very careful to have me away from the other mothers down the hall in the last room. I did not even have to see the other mothers or other babies.

[Melissa H]

The hospital I work at only has private rooms.... The CEO feels that if the patients are being charged for a room that costs as much if not more than an upscale hotel room a night they should have a private room

[Jeanine]

I agree that we should go back to the days of the bedded wards and stop coddling our patients. A hospital stay is not supposed to be for anything other than getting better and getting out. The families regularly helped in patient care and couldn't wait to bring their family member home to the privacy of their own rooms. Sure, hospitals today need to think in terms of customer service to survive, but it's not supposed to be the Hilton either!!

[teeituptom]

I do miss the old wards

they were so much more fun to work

[Rapheal]

They get awful cramped and messy in a short time. Then there is my biggest concern about mixing up the meds or the labs or who you are charting on. I believe it is less safe in that way. The only positive aspect is that usually the roomies look out for each other.

Have you ever had 2 patients who were attention seeking room together? They tend to feed off each other and become a real nursing headache. I really dislike that situation.

[mattsmom81]

Originally Posted by Jeanine

I agree that we should go back to the days of the bedded wards and stop coddling our patients. A hospital stay is not supposed to be for anything other than getting better and getting out. The families regularly helped in patient care and couldn't wait to bring their family member home to the privacy of their own rooms. Sure, hospitals today need to think in terms of customer service to survive, but it's not supposed to be the Hilton either!!

Good point Jeanine. Used to be the private rooms were for patients who needed them for medical reasons (TB, neutropenic, meningitis, etc).

And there were less malingerers around in those days too.

Because the hospital was NOT a hotel. And administation wasn't pushing this '5 star' concept we see today..