Things that should be banned in acute care.

[november17]

1) Caffeinated beverages (for the patients and visitors, of course). I'm so tired of people drinking a liter of Dr. Pepper and then complaining that they can't sleep. Conversely, the people that request a sleeping pill and then an hour later request a coke or cup of coffee.

2) Cable television. Instead, I think there should be a health care version of pay per view that forces people to watch documentaries about their respective primary issues and comorbidities.

Any other ideas?

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

1) Caffeinated beverages (for the patients and visitors, of course). I'm so tired of people drinking a liter of Dr. Pepper and then complaining that they can't sleep. Conversely, the people that request a sleeping pill and then an hour later request a coke or cup of coffee.

2) Cable television. Instead, I think there should be a health care version of pay per view that forces people to watch documentaries about their respective primary issues and comorbidities.

Any other ideas?

I understand about the beverage tiff, I really do. I can't help but laugh at the frequent flyer diabetics who are so comfortable in the hospital, they set up their room with all their little bad habits from home. In this drawer, Pepsi, in another one, Mt. Dew, in the closet cookies and Dr. Pepper. Its easy to see why these people are frequent flyers. I shiver when they start with their pitty parties about how life is so hard on them and how much time they have to spend in the hospital. Then I recall how often they've been told to avoid those foods in the drawer and closet.........and all compassion is lost.

As far as the television thing goes........no way. That'd be a step backwards in so many ways. The main two reasons being:

1. You can't force feed education. Thats part of what separates the nurses who are just warm bodies filling a shift and the ones who are able to initiate change in their pt's. These people are already overwhelmed by it all, with no "distraction" from whatever illness is making them sick. TV watching is one of the few things they have to do where they can take a mental break.

Put it this way. Even a calm/cooperative pt. who is eager/willing to be educated would probably be annoyed with TV focused on their medical issues. You like ice cream? I love it, chocolate especially. But shove it down my throat, a whole gallon at a time...............and I don't like it so much.

2. I've said since I was a CNA that the biggest fault/obstacle hospitals overlook is allowing patients to be "occupied" or "distracted". There simply is nothing to do with yourself as you wait for tests, wait for the next antibiotic, wait for the doctor to come in the next morning. All's these people have to do is sit, think about their health problems and worry about things at home that need tending too. No distraction what so ever except TV if there is something on. I can't imagine how stressed they be with the TV gone too.

[HamsterRN, ADN, RN]

Double rooms (AKA "semi-private")

[nursel56]

some hospitals have a special health education channel omgaahhhh [color=olive] h o r r i b l e but really, why must it be so? is it a rule? anything but cheesy and lame is banned? must body organs be turned into cartoon characters that talk to me?

[zofran]

Everybody got a bit too upset.....

The first thought that came to my mind when I read the title was FAMILY! LOL

[fiveofpeep]

Sarcasm aside, I really do have a personal ban for caffeine. I work nights and there's no way Im giving my already loony toons neuro patients some extra caffeine in the mix.

[Libitina]

Agree with other posters. Some patients (like me) actually need caffeine- if I don't get a consistent amount each day (usually one can) I get some really nasty migraines.

Don't you think though that if you cut the caffeine completely, your headaches would disappear after a few days.

Mine did.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

some hospitals have a special health education channel omgaahhhh [color=olive] h o r r i b l e but really, why must it be so? is it a rule? anything but cheesy and lame is banned? must body organs be turned into cartoon characters that talk to me?

some places i've worked do have a health ed channel but imo it always seems under utilized. i personally perfer to give the pt's handouts (especially if it's how to perform a procedure or such) that way they can refer back to it.

i think we should put a limit on call light use.

[mskate]

I will personally not allow caffeine for my cardiac patients or anyone with a baseline tachycardia above 110. I need to know if it is your heart or the coffee that pushes you over the threshold.

TV however, is a LIFESAVER. In the ICU - when I have 1 patient who is sedated and "stable" and I have to sit in that room for 12 hours - the tv background noise is marvelous. I also would feel terrible for those patients that are in the hospital for MONTHS with nothing to do. What if you had an illiterate, very sick patient? Make them stare at a wall for months?

[Fribblet]

What if you had an illiterate, very sick patient? Make them stare at a wall for months?

They could learn to read and write.

:)

[mskate]

They could learn to read and write.

:)

LOL, i dunno about your hospital, but we don't have literacy tutors on staff and I don't get paid enough to take on yet another job! :) LOL

[oramar]

They have banned some things. Take for instance I can remember when tobacco products were sold in gift shops. As for the soda machines, I could see them getting pulled some day. They have already started taking them out of schools.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

I was just in the hospital last week. It was a public hospital, no fancy menus, food just arrived.

I was not supposed to have caffeine for 24 hrs before the stress test. I was served Iced Tea at both lunch and dinner. I no longer have caffeine after about 2 pm anyway, it keeps me awake. I drank so much water those 2 days that I was floating. Or wish I could have, all the way to the bathroom!