How to stop visitors from using empty bed???

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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??? :mad: Any creative ideas on how to deter this?

Specializes in LTC.

You just have to educate the people who are visiting. If you were not a nurse, you probably would think that it is alright to sit on the bed, especially if there are no chairs around. Everyone has to remember what it was like before you were a nurse. You have to think about the patients family and not be so critical of them.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I'd put the bed in the highest position, put up all the siderails, and unplug the bed so it can't be lowered by family members without plugging it in. If possible, pull the curtain between the beds so there is a divider. The patient and family should get used to having that area off limits, especially if it's likely another patient will be admitted soon.

If all else fails, try placing a clean bed pan on top of the sheets. That might be enough to deter the family members. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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.

I was just going to say that.......:lol2:

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I could order some fake poo online (you know, the plastic fake dog poo) and place it conveniently on the empty bed :lol2:

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
You just have to educate the people who are visiting. If you were not a nurse, you probably would think that it is alright to sit on the bed, especially if there are no chairs around. Everyone has to remember what it was like before you were a nurse. You have to think about the patients family and not be so critical of them.

No, I would not think it was OK to sit on the bed if I were not a nurse. Common sense would tell me that hospital beds are for patients, not visitors. It's time we stop apologizing for peoples' stupidity and lack of manners.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

"Please get off that bed. Now."

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Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.

We used to strip the unused beds and turn the mattresses on the narrow end perpendicular to the frame and lean the bare mattress against the headboard or wall. For some reason that bed frame sans mattress never looks too inviting to plunk down your booty :rolleyes:.

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Specializes in LTC.

I DID have a patient whose family members always insisted on hogging up the roommate's bed. The roommate was clearly agitated by it, but despite his problems, and our repeated requests, the family continued to sit all over his bed.

The poor little guy (who happens to have Down's) finally got fed up I guess, rolled right up to his bed one day, and BIT the snot out of the intruding bed-snatcher. Serves em right!

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Specializes in cardiothoracic surgery.
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 :uhoh3:

What if the patient coded? We have allowed a couple of people to sleep over and bring a cot in the room, but I tell them we need to have enough room in case something does happen like a code. I once had a family member bring a cot in and she was setting it up in a semi private room between the beds, told her she couldn't do that, we need room to intervene if something happened. We called a rapid response the next day on the patient.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

If the family doesn't get it, and keeps trying to take your empty bed, how about moving your most confused pt to the empty bed? The one that calls out the most?

Kidding :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

If it's a Stryker bed, you could set the bed alarm. That way any pressure on the mattress from sitting on the empty bed or throwing stuff on the bed would cause an alarm. May not prevent it from happening the first time, but the embarrassment caused from having staff come into the room for a non-emergency should make them think twice next time. At least you'd hope so...

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