How to stop visitors from using empty bed???

[AJPV]

We have a number of semi-private rooms. It isn't uncommon for us to have one bed occupied with the other bed empty (awaiting a possible second patient). I can't believe how common it is for family/friends of a patient to think the second bed is there for their comfort and convenience! We have tried everything - putting the bed in the highest position, electronically locking it there, unplugging the bed from the wall outlet, placing a little card on the overhead table explaining that the bed must remain unused & clean for other patients. I'll come walking into the room and family/friends have climbed in the bed or set it up as their personal office with their laptop, and they will eat food in the bed showering it with a generous helping of potato chip crumbs. Seriously??? Any creative ideas on how to deter this?

[Lynx25, LPN]

I said, "Miss, if you want to use our other bed, you'll have to pay the standard rate." She was offended, but it worked.

[misswhitney]

I tell people who do that to please get out of the bed and I would be more than happy to get them a chair. If there is more than one of them and it is getting crowded and/or the family is not being cooperative, I will print out the hospital policy on visitors (we technically only allow 2 per patient, over the age of five).

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I used to run into this problem when I worked med/surg. I was gently firm in making it known to families/visitors that the second bed was for patients. If they didn't get the hint the first time, I simply pulled the privacy curtain. That usually worked.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I remind them that is for patient use only and that their loved one was placed in a clean bed and the next patient deserves the same respect.

[Wave Watcher]

The hospital I worked at had mostly private rooms. I had one patient who's family (mostly teenagers) stayed with her every night. They actually put blow up mattresses all over the floor and around the bed. I know there had to of been at least 4 kids in that room each night. The room looked like it had exploded! What finally threw me over the edge was a friend of the patients came in and brought a crock pot and cooler. She was cooking in the crock pot on the counter by the sink and the cooler had alcohol in it. I about died! I just walked out, got my charge nurse and let her handle the situation. I was over it at that point....I was not mentally stable enough to explain to them WHY you can't do that!! Ugh! lol

[MomRN0913]

I clearly tell them this bed has been cleaned and prepared by housekeeping in preparation for receiving a patient feel free to use a chair, but not the bed.

[AJPV]

Beer cooler & a crock pot - I love it! I'd like to suggest a new hospital bed feature to the manufacturers... They should make it possible to put the bed in extreme Trendelenburg - maybe 75 or 80 degrees. Then there should be a lock on the bed that requires a key to unlock it

[Wave Watcher]

Beer cooler & a crock pot - I love it! I'd like to suggest a new hospital bed feature to the manufacturers... They should make it possible to put the bed in extreme Trendelenburg - maybe 75 or 80 degrees. Then there should be a lock on the bed that requires a key to unlock it

I couldn't believe my eyes. Maybe it was a vacation for them. I don't know. I literally kicked one of the kids head on accident one night trying to do the 2 step around them on the floor. I understand they want to be near their mother but this was ridiculous.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Pts and families know the hospital policy. Some abide by the rules, and some don't. The ones who don't don't care what you say or do. They'll use that bed whether you like it or not.

Just move the bed out until you get an admit.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I think it was worse during nursing clinicals when we were sent to do pre-lunch blood sugars on the patient in the bed by the door. She almost did the blood sugar on the window patient's family member who was taking a nap in the USED but made bed of the roommate! (Fortunately she checked for an armband (it was acute physical rehab so pts were encouraged to wear street clothes) but nearly scared the crap out of the visitor) The primary nurse was laughing when she found out as it had been an ongoing battle with the visitor. Since it was an "occupied" bed it couldn't be left in the high position. The family would be told again and and again not to use the roommates bed when they were at PT/OT/ST. Though I think the combination of the almost invasive test plus a total freak out by the door patient's out-of-town family member (first time visiting, saw the bed occupied but didn't know that it was the visitor snuggled in the bed. She apparently let out a blood curling scream when after sitting by what she thought was her sleeping relative saw the actual patient in with his walker). Some people are just plain stupid.

[tiroka03, LPN]

Oh, did you know that last person who died in that bed had HIV, Hep C, MRSA ect, we just threw a cover over it but it still needs to be cleaned professionally. Go ahead lie on it, cook on it - at your own risk.