Resident in the hospital

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

We have a resident whos been in the hospital for awhile. She is well known and liked by the residents in the room near her. They are always asking about her and how she is doing. Truthfully I don't know how shes doing. But is it ok to tell them that she is in the hospital?

Also would it be appropriate if I went to go visit her at the hospital? Not to act as a nurse but to just visit and talk. and listen to her rant(I'm sure shes going through a lot).

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I would tell them. I wouldn't visit. Not for any professional conflict kind of reasons, I just frankly get enough of it on the job.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

When I was a CNA, I visited one my nursing home residents while she was in the hospital. I took her the blanket she always used and a little box she always kept with her that had been left at the nursing home when she was transported by EMS. Her family appreciated that I cared enough to visit. Go make a quick visit, see how she's doing, and ask if she minds if you tell her "neighbors" how she's doing.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I am going to go monday on my day off if she hasn't come back yet. I will call the unit first to see if she is up for visitors.

While she is time consuming.. shes not one of the residents who cause trouble. Everybody misses her.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

When I did Home Health nursing, I sometimes went to visit my patients in the hospital. They were always happy to see a familiar face. And occassionally, I was able to pass on some info to the staff.

Follow your heart on this one.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

And occassionally, I was able to pass on some info to the staff.

Oh my goodness yes. As someone that only sees my frequent flyers when they're sick in the hospital, it's kind of nice to hear what they're like when they aren't sick. Since most of my frequent flyers have a lot of neuro damage, it's usually not much different, but it is nice to see people that care about them, even if it's "only" a professional amount of caring. :)

[alabamaparamedic]

As a paramedic, I've visited some of my longstanding dialysis patients while in the hospital. When you transport the same patient three times a week for the past four years, you begin to get "attached". My ambulance company has even served as pallbearers on occasion.

In a long term care setting, when you begin to actually develop a therapeutic relationship with your patients, I see nothing wrong in visiting them when they are in the hospital. It really makes their day to know that they are remembered and thought of when they are absent.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I don't usually need to visit my residents who are in the hospital. They most likely have the number of the facility memorized and call me to tell me the hospital is "horrible". The nurses there are 'really mean...not like my nurses at home." And, 'the food is rotten and can you believe they won't let me smoke!"

[Schmoo1022]

I don't usually need to visit my residents who are in the hospital. They most likely have the number of the facility memorized and call me to tell me the hospital is "horrible". The nurses there are 'really mean...not like my nurses at home." And, 'the food is rotten and can you believe they won't let me smoke!"

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

I don't usually need to visit my residents who are in the hospital. They most likely have the number of the facility memorized and call me to tell me the hospital is "horrible". The nurses there are 'really mean...not like my nurses at home." And, 'the food is rotten and can you believe they won't let me smoke!"

LOL! Sounds like some of the residents I used to work with. When I worked in LTC and one of my "babies" was in the hosptial for more than a day or two, I'd go visit them. Usually they wanted to see how their neighbors were and if I'd take them out for a quick smoke.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Oh well, I don't consider mine to be 'babies'. Mostly they are psychotic, drug using, annoying people.