Tips for Being a Good Patient

Dogen · Nov 6, 2015

1. Don't worry about it. It's not your job to be a good patient. Your job is to get your surgery and then do your PT. Seriously. Get up and walk or stretch the band or lay on a tennis ball. Whatever they tell you to do. It's the RN's job to be professional.

2. Tell them so they can help you to be comfortable and protect your skin from break down. Especially if your surgery will affect your mobility.

3. Save your supplies. Hospitals have that stuff (Texas cath, etc). Unless you have something that's not typical. I had a patient who wore an external brain stimulator while he was on the neuro unit. That's the sort of thing you bring from home. Not catheters, bags, pads, etc.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Nov 6, 2015

Nursing staff are used to helping people with elimination issues, especially around surgery. And they are people, too, so "please" and "thank you" are nice to hear, although not necessary. Moving and breathing, however, are necessary, and your ticket home.

Best of health to you!

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Nov 6, 2015

Make sure you stay on top of your pain, but don't be a clock watcher. Ask for pain meds and if it is too soon, they will let you know and should find ways to make you comfortable anyway.

Do what they tell you to do.

Do tell them about your incontinence issues. That way, they will prepare to assist you with that.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2015

Patients do have responsibilities and you very kind for asking .

1. Please tell us all your medical history and current medical problems or concerns and have a list of all medications you are currently taking and this includes and OTC medications and any herbal,vitamins or homeopathic preparations. If you have any allergies ask the hospital how they prevent you from getting any medication that you are allergic to.

2. You need to report to the nurse ANY changes in your condition immediately even if they seem small and unimportant at the time. Many problems/complications start out with very subtle signs and symptoms.

3. You need to follow the treatment plan to the best of your abiity and when and if your can't you should communicate the reason why is isn't possible so an alternate plan can be put in place.

4. Please tell us if you are in pain or if what you have been given is not giving you adequate relief. We have many options but keep in mind that we must keep you safe and will assess your vital signs and respiratory status among other things to make sure you are not having an adverse effects.

5. Bring a good pair of slippers that have very good traction on the bottom. If you plan to wear your own gown or PJs make sure they have short sleeves and very loose. We need to be able to assess you,monitor your IV site and get to you in an an emergency.

6. Do not bring any petroleum based products in for your lips if you will be needing Oxygen but do try to bring one in without it. Many of the medications we use make your mouth and lips very dry. Some hospitals do have Chapsticks that have no petroleum based products in them.

7. Do not try to keep an IV in place if it hurting you, or is red or swollen so you will not have to be poked again. Do not let anyone poke you for an IV or blood draw in your wrist or 4-5 inches along the wrist on the thumb side (the radial nerve crosses over the vein in that area up to 3 times so it easy to hit and damage that nerve). Many people do not know this and do not realize that as of 2006 it is no longer acceptable to use this area unless it is a true emergency.

8. Listen to the nurses,: For example , If they think you need help to walk to the bathroom,just believe them and call for help.

9. Watch any nurse or doctor that gives you direct care and make sure they have performed hang hygiene, In most cases a nurse can use hand gel or foam and or bacterial soap and water wash. In a few cases soap and water must be used. It is OK to ask and when the gel or foam is just outside the door I tell my patient I have cleansed my hands.

10. We must ask you to identify yourself with at least two identifiers and we do not do this to be annoying so be patient.

TheGooch · Nov 6, 2015

Make sure you stay on top of your pain, but don't be a clock watcher. Ask for pain meds and if it is too soon, they will let you know and should find ways to make you comfortable anyway..

Really? Because when I had surgery and had some pain before my next dose of pain meds I was told it wasn't time for it and that was it.

To the OP-you're the patient. I wouldn't spend so much time worrying about being a "good patient". It's not the Hilton-there will be noise at night when the nurses are at their station chatting with their co workers. Hopefully you will not be near it like I was or have a big mouth nurse like I had who spent most of the night talking rather loudly with her co workers regarding her plans for the weekend. Kept me up the whole night and I received a lecture from my surgeon's PA the next morning about how important sleep was. The next night I had to share my room with a woman with sleep apnea who snored the whole night. When that same PA came the next morning I was more than happy to be able to go home.

TheGooch · Nov 6, 2015

Patients do have responsibilities and you very kind for asking .
4. Please tell us if you are in pain or if what you have been given is not giving you adequate relief. We have many options but keep in mind that we must keep you safe and will assess your vital signs and respiratory status among other things to make sure you are not having an adverse effects.
10. We must ask you to identify yourself with at least two identifiers and we do not do this to be annoying so be patient.

I'm LMAO over these two. Like I said, my nurse didn't care that I had pain-only that it was too early for the medication, but no suggestions on how to make it better.

Oh and I was never asked to identify myself when given medication.

Dranger · Nov 6, 2015

You just coming onto this board and asking this kind of question probably means you are a good patient by default.

Don't worry about it.

canigraduate · Nov 6, 2015

The patients I have gotten along the best with are the ones with a sense of humor, who communicate with me and let me know what's going on, and who do not expect to be the only focus of my attention.

I do my best to make every patient feel special, but when 4 of you all need pain meds at the same time, someone has to go last. For safety reasons, I can't just throw pills at you. LOL! So just be mindful that the nurse is not ignoring you if something takes longer than you think it should. Use your call light again to remind the nurse so that she can ask someone else to help you while she's dealing with whatever emergency (minor or major) has come up.

The biggest thing is communication. If you are unsure about something, or are unable to comply with the treatment plan, let the nurse know so she can talk to you about it. Make sure you use your call light, which is usually a big paddle shaped thing with a large red call button. Sending someone to the desk or flagging someone down doesn't get you any faster response times and may actually cause a delay in getting the message to the nurse.

I hope some of that helps you know what to expect. I wish you good luck and swift recovery!

MaudKennedy · Nov 6, 2015

8. Listen to the nurses,: For example , If they think you need help to walk to the bathroom,just believe them and call for help.

I get what you mean but what about modesty,especially for showering?? I know you're used to and everything but it doesn't make it any less strange or even incomfortable for the patient. I'd have a big problem with it.

mcdebb · Nov 6, 2015

It's a matter of respect isn't it? But whenever I've been in the hospital, I try to remember that nurse's have seen it all. We're all people, though and you should expect nurses to treat you respectfully and to give you the dignity you deserve. It's always best to ask questions if you have them and advise about prior conditions. I'd definitely tell them about your incontinence.

allnurses Guide · Nov 6, 2015

Good advice so far. :up:

I'd bring my own incontinence stuff though. Sometimes the hospital version isn't as good.

(The pads I was asked to use after having a baby were worthless!). :sarcastic:

Good luck!