Friday, November 5, 2010

Paying A Visit To A Sick Friend Without Being A Hindrance To His Or Her Recovery

By Jane Friedrich

All hospitals share the same goal: to make sure that patients are taken care of and that they stay safe. If a friend or family member ends up in the hospital, this will be your most important concern as well.

It's actually quite common for people to harm their loved ones, or even other patients, when visiting the hospital. They may not respect the patient's wishes to be alone or they may not give the patient enough time to rest. Follow these three rules to ensure that you're not getting in the way of a patient's recovery.

First, you should always try to ask for a patients' permission before visiting them. You wouldn't want to intrude on a patient who really doesn't feel well enough to see visitors. Some patients would certainly appreciate the company, but you want to be sure before you show up at the hospital. Remember that the patient is the one who is in the hospital, so put his or her needs before yours.

Second, remember to always wash your hands or use sanitizer to keep them clean before touching the patient or handing something to him or her. The last thing you want to do is transport harmful bacteria to someone who is in a fragile state already.

By the same token, don't visit a hospital if you are ill yourself. Contagious sicknesses are especially bad to bring into a hospital. You may end up just making the patient even sicker.

Third, keep in mind that the patient isn't there to entertain you. If the patient is too weak, he or she will most likely just want to rest.

Pay attention to the patient's words and actions so that you'll pick up on signs that he or she would like to have some time alone to rest. Try to stay for only an hour and a half to an hour at a time so that you're not being too imposing. It's advisable to visit more frequently and stay for shorter periods of time than it is to stay longer.

Follow these simple guidelines to be sure that you're not causing any undue stress or harm to a patient in the hospital. He or she will certainly appreciate your sympathy and understanding of the situation.

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