TV in the ED

RN-PA, RN · Nov 25, 2003

There are TV's in our ED rooms. The two times I've been in one of those rooms-- once as a patient, once when my husband was a patient-- I was very thankful for them. There were no magazines and I would've gone stir crazy while waiting to be examined, for test results, etc., if I hadn't been distracted by the TV. It was suspended from the ceiling, and so didn't take up any room. And the way our TV remotes are rigged throughout the hospital, they're attached to the wall with a long cord, and the audio comes through the remote, so it doesn't get TOO loud.

There's also one TV in the ED waiting room which I'd think could get on people's nerves if it's a show they're not interested in or a program's on that's loud and annoying to someone in pain-- emotional and/or physical.

marcicatherine · Nov 25, 2003

We recently installed TV's in all the rooms in the ER. They are also mounted high on the wall and the remote is built into the call light. I also think it has been a wonderful thing. The sure number of rubber-neckers has decreased, as has the phrase we all love to hear, "can you tell me how much longer it's gonna be?" Most of the time, in my experience, when i enter a pt room and they are watching TV, the pt turns if off or down. If they don't,i reach up and turn it off until i'm finished talking. The only thing that seems strange and unnecessary to me is...........we have TV's in the trauma rooms! "Sir, i'm going to be putting a tube in your throat to help you breathe. Would you like to watch the news or "Survivor" while i'm doing it?" :chuckle :roll :chuckle

RN-PA, RN · Nov 25, 2003

Originally posted by marcicatherine
The only thing that seems strange and unnecessary to me is...........we have TV's in the trauma rooms! "Sir, i'm going to be putting a tube in your throat to help you breathe. Would you like to watch the news or "Survivor" while i'm doing it?" :chuckle :roll :chuckle

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2003

We sometimes have to put minor stuff in our trauma rooms, and we also use the big rooms for family members that all check in for something. (the old twofer or threefer) So it does help to have a TV in the room. Also if RT is in the one bagging someone and they are waiting to go upstairs, I don't see anything wrong with them having the TV on. It beats staring at the walls while you're bagging someone.

JMHO,

Pam:cool:

CountrifiedRN · Dec 1, 2003

We have TV's in all rooms except the trauma rooms, and I agree with those who say it decreases complaints about wait times. Ours are on moveable arms attached to the wall, so they can be pushed up out of the way or pulled right down to the pts bedside, no remotes. I rarely have to go change channels for anyone since the TV can be put within their reach.

I also find that in our fast track unit which is somewhat small and closed in, it helps keep pts from overhearing other pts information discussed at the desk or in the next room. So in that way it provides more discreet treatment.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2004

TVs in the ER is a nice Idea.

However, the latest superbowl night a pt developed chest pain and called 911. EMS brought him in with lights and sirens, turned out to be a 22 yo male whose TV died during the Superbowl game, and he knew we had TVs in all our rooms... Can you guess what sized SL I inserted in him :rotfl: :rotfl:

ucandoit · Jul 1, 2004

We are re-designing our ED. It has been suggested to put TV's in the patient rooms. I am against the idea as our ED is disrupted enough and feel that TV's will encourage more visitors at bedside (always a problem) and loudness issues.
Does anybody else out there have TV's in the ED exam rooms? How do you manage any problems with noise, crowds, etc?
Thanks.
Andrew B

WE got em and we love em!!!!They keep the patients occupied!!!!

Fly4Life12 · Jul 1, 2004

we just put tv's in our rooms, and at first i thought it was a really bad idea- but it has really worked to our favor. if we need to go in and talk to the pt. or when the dr. goes in, its easy to just turn the tv off. but sometimes the wait is really long and it really helps. except for the fact people have stolen most of our remote controls. i just tell the pts family members to turn the channel for the pt bc we dont have remotes. i havent had to turn the station for anyone yet. however, our trauma rooms dont have tvs. im all about the vcr's, EMTPTORN.

obeyacts2 · Jul 1, 2004

I think TV is fine for the waiting areas, but not for tx areas. Our local ER has two TVs in the waiting area, which is shared by Urgent care and the regular ER. I was there a few months ago with my MIL and I was thoroughly amused by the fact that no matter how ill or injured they claimed to be, the male pts all seemed to be able to drag themselves to the far side of the waiting area to watch the TV that had basketball on, vs the one near admitting that was featuring cartoons.

Laura

LisaG21 · Jul 1, 2004

I am all for the tv's in the ER. People are anxious as it is when they are waiting to know the results of a test or to find out what is wrong with them. Watching their favorite show or any show could help take their mind off of it.

Of course you don't expect to watch tv when you see your doctor but you also don't wait 6 sometimes 10 hours at your doctors office.

Also, I would say to eliminate the remote-get the call bells with the remote inside it that will eliminate any run away remotes.

As far as the patient watching tv issue at the hospital I am at (also a trauma center) there is a security guard-there are only 3 people allowed in the room at one time and it is up to the SG if there is to be more - Ex. when my dad had his heart attack there were 4 of us of course I was stuck outside by myself and the SG let me in. Stick to your rules!!!!!! If there are too many people tell them to wait outside!

sharann, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2004

When I was a patient in my local ED (for PAncreatitis of all things, med induced), I had a 4 hour wait in the exam room and was grateful to be able to watch Judge Judy while waiting for my Zofran to kick in. So please don't confuse TV's in rooms with your crowd control issues. YOU tell them what the policy is about visitors, but let them watch TV for heavens sake! I wish we had em in our PACU(for those eternal holds...)

sharann, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2004

When I was a patient in my local ED (for PAncreatitis of all things, med induced), I had a 4 hour wait in the exam room and was grateful to be able to watch Judge Judy while waiting for my Zofran to kick in. So please don't confuse TV's in rooms with your crowd control issues. YOU tell them what the policy is about visitors, but let them watch TV for heavens sake! I wish we had em in our PACU(for those eternal holds...)