Visitors Code of Conduct

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

Someone had placed a post earlier this week about a Visitor's Code of Conduct. I am on an Employee Advisory Council Committee and am REALLY interested in hearing what is on this code. If anyone had one already in place, can you give me some ideas to bring to the committee? We meet next Monday. Off the top of my head, things I would like to see are: People not coming to visit their love ones while under the influence, Leaving when visiting hours are over (it is GREAT that you love your husband and don't want to leave him, but what about his poor roomate trying to sleep:confused:,) OH, and no type of harrassement or abuse towards patient or staff will be tolerated. Anything else?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Visitors not helping themselves to the pts.' nourishment station.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Respecting that theirs is not the ONLY loved one who is a patient on our unit and to KEEP QUIET at NIGHTTIME

Dont' trash our VISITOR's LOUNGE

(no we don't get to enforce visitor hours on OB)

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

In the ER, stay in the patient's room, not at the desk, not at the doorway watching every one else, allow the staff the privacy to work at the desk on other people's problems without trying to listen in on everything you hear about other people. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

-Advocate for your loved one, but don't be a pain in the behind. Good luck wording that one.

-Do not bring food/drink to patients without prior authorization DAILY from the nursing staff.

-Do not allow children to roam free and touch everything... a hospital is NOT childproof!

-Do not eat your loved ones food and not tell anyone, really messes up the I & O info and can impact the care the physician prescribes.

-Do not stay for hours and hours on end, especially with young children (they get bored quickly). The patient is here to get well and that means REST!

-Do not bring in McDonalds, Pizza, KFC into the room of a patient who is NPO and then proceed to eat and enjoy it in from of them. How cruel.

-Do not come into the room, change the tv station then proceed to ignore the patient. You are a visitor..........VISIT for goodness sake.

-Love your Er suggestions JBudd. I hate when people stand in the doorways staring at you! What's up with that? Must be universal.

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Specializes in ER.

Oh please let me add......

In the event that you are visiting and the doctor or nurse enters , do not quiz them about the patients status and treatment if you are not in the position to make these decisions!

(ex. sister of married patient, 2nd cousin of patient)

Also, try not to hash out family dissagreements in a patients room!

T, holder of the Durable Power of Attorney and don't you forget it:)

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Treat staff (secretaries, nurses, aides) in a respectful manner. Abuse of any staff should not be tolerated.

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With few exceptions, only 2 visitors at a time. Too many people in a room can become a party that disturbs not only the roommate but other patients down the hall.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Plus, the pt. might be exhausted, yet here's 8 ppl bugging the crap out of him. :stone

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Specializes in geriatric.

do not go to the doctor's house at 9pm and proceed to tell him your mother is in pain and we are not doing anything for her and that we have not even been in her room.

yes, this actually happened. this patients family drove us crazy for the whole month she was in the hospital. we were all in her room about 4 times an hour. never once did she mention being in pain despite being asked repeatedly. the doc called us and said the (name) family came to my house. give her nubain 1cc now.

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Do not have sex in the visitor's lounge. Yes, this really happened. They (both visitors) tried to deny what they were doing until we showed them the monitor which gave us an all too clear view of their shenanigans.

Do not try to load up the complimentary diaper bag with everything in the crib and then ask for new supplies. This could apply to patients as well as visitors.

Do not violate a restraining order to come see your relative. I now have the extension for security memorized.

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Do not expect your loved one to be perky and full of life after 50mg of Demerol. When you get you pain meds it'd be nice for family to leave and not talk amongst themselves. Pt. is trying to rest.

This happened to me. I got my pain meds and my roommate had (no joking) 7 visitors. When I'm in the hospital I want to rest quietly.

I think this is great what you're doing. Is this a new committee? I'd love to hear more info on this! I have heard more than my fair share of elderly patients who say they have to hold off on their pain meds because family come and if they find them drowsy they complain. Also, last weekend I walked into a room of an elderly pt. and no joking, her family had a bassinet and a playpen for her grandchildren. Those kids were cranky and loud. Here's a good rule: Use common sense.

If only some people had some.

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