# visitors in ICU

total surgery (kept cervix) 4/12/10, 3 hours long. of all the questions i had before surgery (many were answered here on the site or by co workers i never knew had the surgery)> >>>NO ONE suggested that i get the Visitor Policy in writing. My room mate came in through ER - had not had surgery, there were no controls (even though the sign on my door indicated washing hands coming and going), 4 -5 people besides hospital personnel were squeezing by my bed, bumping hospital chairs and tables through the curtian (often bumping my bed). Even wearing ear plugs, i had more stress from the strangers bumping the bed, unwashed hands on the foot board i need to help my self stand, NEEDLESS to SAY i was honkerblonked. When a kind Tech saw my stress and said the 'rule is two guests per patient", she put a sign on my door - to "keep it to two, and keep the door shut". A very uncaring Nurse manager came by less than two hours later - tearing it down. ***WHILE BEING HOME IS NICE, THE REST IN THE HOSPITAL IS IMPORTANT AND YOUR RIGHT!! FIND THE POLICY AND HAVE IT BY YOUR BEDSIDE. FIND THE HOSPITAL "RISK MANAGER" NAME BEFORE YOU CHECK IN, AND MAKE ANY ISSUES KNOWN.

That's true. Used to be, 2 visitors at a time, short visits----but now the trend is "family centered care" which translates to any # guests any time. Some people obviously like it, but it can be a free for all. Ask for the nurse manager and hope she's nicer than yours, and ask the nurses for help. Sorry you were the recipient of the new trend.

Oh noooo!!! I'm sorry you had to experience that with your recovery! I was shocked when I went to admissions that they told me that I would be going home after my surgery. ARE YOU SERIOUS? I immediately made sure they looked into that (it was an oversight). When I "finally" woke up 7 hours after my surgery I was in my room that had a recliner, table for 2, vcr, flat screen, and a refrigerator...WOW!!! I had the most caring nurses...all of them. the hospital food....well that is another story in itself

We have this problem at the hospital where I work. I think you should have all the visitors you want--IF you are in a private room! Just because you feel good, your roommate may not. It is very disrespectful, and that nurse manager should have been written up.

Good advice! I can't believe those people were so disrespectful. I know when my FIL was in we tried to be ever so respectful of his roomate. I'm SOOO glad my hospital was all private rooms! The noise from the hallway was bad enough-but at least I could close the door!I'm so sorry you had this experience.

I can totally understand your frustration!
In my room they put a woman that hadn't even had surgery yet, I don't know what was wrong with her, but she had a bm accident all over my room floor. Needless to say I demanded they move me or I would get sick and they would have to clean that up too! I had a very bad hospital stay, mean uncaring nurses were the worst part of it!
So glad I am home!

Ladies - thank you for all the comments - thought i was just having the 'fuzzy head reaction - with the morphine and all". I will add the suggestion to the"Pre Op Page".. HUGS to all.

Oh, it wasn't you at all. My room was partitioned by a curtain, but noise was still a problem. My earplugs and iPhone saved me. I can't imagine anyone being insensitive enough to bump the bed you were in!!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by strongerthanendo I can totally understand your frustration! In my room they put a woman that hadn't even had surgery yet, I don't know what was wrong with her, but she had a bm accident all over my room floor. Needless to say I demanded they move me or I would get sick and they would have to clean that up too! I had a very bad hospital stay, mean uncaring nurses were the worst part of it! So glad I am home!

I feel you, I had a roomate that had some type of surgery not sure, but she was constantly on her cell phone day and night and was very loud when talking. I could not rest in the hospital at all from her loud talking and the rude nurses waking you up to take your blood pressure every 30 minutes, I was so ready to go home. My nurses were very uncaring and when you would call for them they would take their time coming I wanted to cry. I would call my husband to please come help just to get up out the bed. I am not sure what is going on in the nursing industry but it is very upsetting to know they could actually treat a sick person this way. Before I left the hospital I got the names of the nurses that I felt mistreated me and wrote a letter to the nursing supervisor, I requested to know the outcome of what happens and to this date I have heard nothing it's been almost 4 weeks.