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What to Take to the Hospital

11/2/2012

1 Comment

 
If you or a loved one goes in to the hospital emergently, you may not have time to grab much to take.  However, if you go in for a scheduled procedure, you should have time to  pack a bag.  Likewise if your loved one is in the hospital this list may give you an idea of things they might like to have with them.

Things to Take to the Hospital

Living Will - this document spells out your wishes regarding CPR, intubation, life support and the like.  If you know what you want, put it in writing.
Prescription List - if you can't take it, bring your prescriptions.  If you have a list, please leave your medications at home.  You don't want to take something the nurse already gave you.
Insurance card - this one is kind of obvious.
Pacemaker Card  - if you have a pacemaker, the hospital needs to know some details about it.  This lets them know what type of pacemaker you have and if it's MRI safe.
Walker or Cane - if you need a device to get around, please bring it.
Change of clothes - at least a change of underwear for the day you go home will feel nice.
Cell Phone Charger - no, we don't have a charger for your cell phone.
Phone List - we will likely have a hard time looking up somebody's number for you.  Most people have cell phones that we can't just look up on line.
Razor - yes, we have razors, but they don't feel as nice as the one you have at home.
Toothbrush - yes, we have toothbrushes too, but they are the cheap kind.
Hairbrush - we probably only have combs, and those aren't very fancy.
Deodorant - many places don't carry this, and if they do, they probably don't carry your brand.
Feminine Hygiene Products - if you need these, you won't like the hospital quality, or lack of selection.  It may also be a good idea to bring underwear to go with the products.
Books or Magazines - unless you want to watch television all day, we don't have many activities for you to do.
A Good Attitude - the hospital staff works hard for you, a good attitude lets them know you appreciate it.

Things to Leave at Home

Prescriptions - just bring the list.
Jewelry - please don't wear jewelry, you may have to remove it at some point.
Valuables - many places have a safe, but it takes time to get your things out when you are ready to leave.
1 Comment
Jane
11/2/2012 02:41:14 pm

Another good thing is a person who can act as your advocate. Check to make sure that meds they are giving are yours..not someone elses. This has happen to me more times than you like to know.
Also, always have any medical staff change gloves in front of you if they are going to touch you...draw blood etc. if they said they did outside say please change again for my own feelings of security.
If there is any dust bunnies or dirt in hospital room..have them clean it immediately! You can get more infections etc while being in hospital than about any other place..because of these small things.
Also, one i had no idea that this could or anyone would even think o doing such a thing. If you are in pain have you advocate raise ruckus. I know of nurses that have taken the pain medicine for people after surgeries...for themselves. Replaced it with saline. So your drip was not helping. So if you are in a lot of pain insist they get someone to evaluate you and suggest they check the machine.
i wish i had known this one night ....young girl had emergency surgery and was crying with pain...they kept saying you got all you can have...where i had drip and my pain was fine. If i had known about this..i would have insisted they get someone to help her. I feel bad often i did not.
Others above...my mom came through bypass surgery excellently due to my rn sister watching over her...and making sure all of above were followed. Sure staff thought she was pain, but my mom did not get infections where everyone else had..that got one at same time. s

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    Clip is married.  He and his wife Joelle are the parents of 5 children.  Clip's medical experience includes 4 years as an Air Force Medic and over 2 years as a Registered Nurse.

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