PT's that require a private room

[RhodyLPNstudent]

I have Googled this info and nothing really came up that was worth my while. So, i'm going to ask my fellow students and the nurses on here for some help.

What type of patients need a private room?

I am assuming a pt who is getting radiation therapy, Ebola, and immuno-compromised.

Can you guys think of any other pt's who would need a private room?

Thanks in advance.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

IMHO there is no reason patients should ever share room, it's terrible for infection control, privacy and safety. Pts who have psych issues, immunocompromise, contagious diseases, etc all should be away from the general population. This is 2013 people

[christina731]

IMHO there is no reason patients should ever share room it's terrible for infection control, privacy and safety. Pts who have psych issues, immunocompromise, contagious diseases, etc all should be away from the general population. This is 2013 people[/quote']

I totally agree. My grandmother was in a rehab facility and had a shared room. The facility was old and the rooms were probably built for 1 per room but now they squeeze 2 per room. The beds were maybe 2 feet apart and when the curtain was closed there was barely enough room to squeeze next to her bed. She had roommates who were on isolation and she was not. She acquired multiple illnesses in the time that she was there and was never able to have a private conversation with anyone. It's sad that the corporations that own these facilities are more concerned about profits than patient safety/privacy.

[SaoirseRN]

IMHO there is no reason patients should ever share room it's terrible for infection control, privacy and safety. Pts who have psych issues, immunocompromise, contagious diseases, etc all should be away from the general population. This is 2013 people[/quote']

Which is ideal, of course, but not always feasible. My facility is old and has very few privates. Mostly semi privates and 4-bed rooms.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

In the early 90's I believe, the government passed the ADA forcing all public establishments and residences to retro fit their facilities so that they were handicap accessible. It was expensive but I think worth it to make the world more accessible to the disabled.

This is possible for the joint commission to institute I think. Think of all the infections this could prevent, the privacy benefits and safety of our psych pts.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Homework, homework, homework.

Well, at least now you have a good list. Say thank you and let us know what your grade was on it.

And next time, you'll be more credible that you "googled it" if you say what you searched. "Isolation patients" gets you quite a bit...and you can always check the CDC.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

From psych:

Patients requiring contact/droplet/airborne precautions get their own room...though in psych it's more likely to be due to scabies and lice than MRSA or c. diff.

Transgendered patients get their own room. Homosexual/bisexual patients will not, nor do we pair them with other such patients: if they're a gay male, they get a male roommate who may or may not also be gay. However we usually try to give homosexual/bisexual kids their own quarters, as the kids are more likely to try to put the moves on their roomie.

Patients who are exceptionally violent, psychotic, unpredictable or for whatever reason we feel would be better on their own will get their own room.