Policy on Peds Patients

TiredMD · Jan 5, 2008

Parents are not required to stay. We have a number of chronic kids whose parents rarely come to visit. Just yesterday I spent a good three hours trying to track a mother down by phone so I could get consent for an operation on her 6mo old.

In some cases, parents are not allowed to stay. We have a very professional security staff, who is very good at safely "removing" parents from their child's room on a prn basis.

Simkah · Jan 5, 2008

On our pediatric ward, parents are not required to stay, but are strongly encouraged to do so. "Family-Centered Care" is the official policy of our Children's Hospital. However, there are many tragic instances in which the biological parent is NOT allowed to visit unsupervised.

Our policy states the following concerning parents:

Parents are encouraged to stay with their children. If anyone else stays with a patient, they must beat least 18 years old.
Sleeping devices are not to be opened before 9:00 p.m. and must be put away by 9:00a.m. There is only enough floors pace for one sleeping device or recliner per room.
Patients are to be in their rooms with the TV or radio turned down by 10:00 p.m.
Patients/families/visitors must wear socks, slippers, or shoes when not in bed.
Families, siblings, and visitors must follow isolation procedures at all times. Failure to do so will result in loss of visiting privileges.

Valanda · Jan 5, 2008

Granted it was 17 years ago, but at UTMB in Galveston, TX and at Angleton,TX hospitals I was required to stay with my kids when they were hospitalized unless they were in the NICU or PICU. I really wish it had not been a rule. I recall each day having to beg various friends to come to the hospital to relieve me for 30 - 45 minutes each day so I could go eat, shower, check on the kids at home. I recall being so desperate once that I paid a nurse co-worker $50 to sit with my son for 30 minutes so i could get something to eat. I think prison isn't even that bad!

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jan 5, 2008

as I said in my last post, parents are not required to stay. The nurses like them to though.

The last few times I have been hospitlaized my parents have not stayed. They usually come visit me once a day. But for only like an hour or two. But that is because I really do not need them there. It slowly got to this point. The surgery when I was 17 they only did not stay at night but the last two it became I was alone during the day also. I can care for my self. I know when to call my nurse and if I need something I wait (usually) till a nurse or CNA is in there for some other reason and ask them then.