feelings about double rooms

[starryx2]

I was curious to see how everyone feels about double occupancy in hospital rooms. I believe that single room are the best for many reasons.

1. The patient is not bothered by other patients visitors/TV

2. It is cleaner, patients have their own bathrooms.

3. Privacy is much easier to uphold.

4. Nurses are more likely to wash their hands between patients.

5. Medication errors and other errors for that matter are more easily avoided.

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

I mean i could go on and on about why i feel this way. Im sure that it is most likely that money is the factor in why there are double occupancy in hospital room which is very sad to say. How do you feel about it?????

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I know it's not politically correct but I like all the 8 and 16 bed wards set up in a circle with nurses in the middle. All those little old ladies were support and entertainment for each other. They looked out for each other, and just by virtue of seeing all the other patients they weren't left to stew in their own misery. Peer pressure confined all but the most determined attention seekers, and if one fell or couldn't reach a call bell the entire ward would light up with other seeking help.

Hey, I know privacy goes right out the window on those wards, but as far as safety and moral support you can't beat a gaggle of women. Several times as a student, and also when my mom was in hospital the patients, or visiting families were able to put the brakes on abusive or neglectful behavior by medical or nursing staff.

There were definite advantages to Ward Care. I remember working 20 bed wards in the military hospitals when I was young. Every body got meds at the same time. Like going around and feeding chirping birds in a nest. Dont forget Temps with the old reusable glass thermometers. Lots easier back then.

[confused101]

Hate our semi-private rooms (if 'semi-private' isn't the biggest oxymoron in the world...). I'm only slightly surprized that they're still allowed at all, seeing how anal we all have to be now because of HIPPA. How can just possibly review your pts plan of care and needs confidentially when their roomie is 5 feet away with a thin curtain between you? However, if we made my unit all private rooms, our census would drop from 31 to 22, and you know the hospital isn't going to give up 9 beds and lose the money generated from them.

You got that right. I worked on a private room floor as a tech. It was so nice. Now I work double bed as a nurse. I go home with bruses all over me trying to get through the rooms with all of the chairs and computer stuff. Some days I begin to wonder about how HIPPA can really be done. I mean the nurses station is right there in the hall. I know someone has to hear stuff when talking about pt.'s on the phone and stuff. And you know we couldn't go singles because that would me we would loose money. What a waste!