Help Writing Book/Guide

[patientcare]

hi,

i'm trying to write a book/guide for the family members of patients in hospitals.

i would like to concentrate on the things that these relatives need to do to make sure that the patient gets the best care possible.

if answering, please try to imagine that the patient is a relative of yours, and try to imagine what are the things that you would do to ensure the best possible medical care. (any tips would be greatly appreciated).

also, i would like to know if you could give ideas on what is the best way for these family members to relate to you and to the doctors. i would like reading about what do you think is the best way for them to feel involved with the process while making your job easier.

i would appreciate any help i can get; the more information the better.

if you help me with some input and would like to receive a copy once i'm done, please let me know and i'll send you a free copy.

thank you

igor buces

[email protected]

[deniseS]

Hello,

One thing I did find helpful to myself and my family when my Dad was sick and in the hospital was to designate one and only one family member to call regarding his status. If another family member had questions they could write them down and ask the designated family member to ask the questions. I think this is more helpful to the hospital staff also. I also recommend to patients to write any questions they think of down as this will be a good reference in remembering what to ask their physician when they come to see them at the bedside.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above. Some golden rules

"You always catch more flies with honey than with venegar" In other words be nice to the nursing staff and they will be nice back. People are under the mistaken impression that the squeaky wheel gets most attention - well it might but who needs that much oil???? In other words you don;t have to get in everyone's face to get good care.

If possilbe - check out the staff ratio's and be very very wary of the "flash foyer" syndrome in hospitals. That is where the interior decoration of the foyer cost $$$$$MEGA but the resuscitation trolley was put together with second hand equipment and there are 12 patients to one nurse and the cardiac monitors are actually a "Gameboy" that has been jury rigged to count heart beats - you get my meaning all show no substance.

[bellehill, RN]

Question what medications are being given to you and why

Definitely have one specified person to call for info

Two visitors at a time, if the nurses can't get in the room they can't take care of the patient.

Write down the names of the doctors/residents who take care of the patient, they tend to come out of the woodwork when you are in the hospital.

The more personal belongings you bring the more chance they will be lost/broken/stolen, only bring necessary stuff with you

Respect the nurses, we are only trying to do our job

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Don't focus too much on getting the "best possible care" no one knows what that really is. (If you don't believe me read any two conflicting research reports) Instead focus on competant, porficient or expert care. If you spend a lot of time searching for the mythical "best" you are likely to become the victim of a snake oil merchant - all promises no substance.

[Katnip, RN]

If you know you or your family is going to the hospital bring your medications or a legible list with name, dosages, and frequency.

If you know you are coming to the hospital and have Advanced Directives, please bring them so we can make a copy for the chart. This can prevent a lot of misunderstanding during the patient's stay.

Please leave valuables and items other than the basic necessities at home. We know these things mean a lot to you, but patients often are moved around a lot during their stay and things can be lost. Also rooms tend to be small and it's difficult to find enough storage space for too many personal items.

Please respect visiting hours. We have limits on this because we do a lot of procedures during the other hours, and your loved one may well be at a test for hours at a time; we don't want you to have to sit and wait around twiddling your thumbs. Also, your loved one is here because he or she is sick, and needs plenty of time for rest.

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

One thing I've always wished patients would be told was what each employee's role was, ie- what a CNA can do for the pt and what a nurse/ PT/ case manager etc is responsible for. It would be useful for them to know that any staff member can give personal care but a nurse is needed to give medication or do a wound treatment, etc. (Now if we could just get the staff members to wear their ID's...)

I've also wished patients and their families were more aware of when time is especially tight for us...If a family member asks when I would be able to speak with them for a few minutes I am more able to give them an estimate of when I will be free and more able to really focus on their Mom or whoever. Also, I try to set expectations for my patients that change of shift is a rough time to get meds because the Narcotic med cabinet is tied up for count, and that during (staff) meal times staffing levels are lowered so that we can't do HS care at that time.

I would love to see the finished version! Good luck.