Hospital roommate etiquette

[locolala]

When I was inpatient after my injury in Iraq, I had an awesome roomie. They won't let a man share a room with a woman, and since there are fewer women in the military and coming home injured, we kind of stick together. We shared meals from places that delivered, watched movies together on my laptop, and even now 3 years later we keep in touch and get together whenever we can.

When I had DD, I was in a private room. No roomate there other than the baby and my husband. No signs on the bathrooms about patient use only. They encouraged DH to stay in the room with me since I was in isolation and they didn't want him to bring germs out of the room, lol.

 

[ols386]

Using a restroom in the hospital room is against the rules? I have never even heard of that or ever seen a sign or anything. I've used the restroom in rooms while visiting plenty of times before, and have had people use my restroom when I was in the hospital.

I don't know if it's against the rules or not, but I always use the public restrooms rather a patient restroom. They usually have at least one public restroom on each floor, and quite a few others throughout most hospitals.

 

[Disnydad]

I did a short stay back in 2008 after having part of my colon removed. My first roommate was a older man than me (I was 56) in for a simular procedure and he was a really nice fellow. He was only there for one night. Then I had the room to myself for one night. Then all heck broke loose! Security took up positions outside my room and they wheeled in a young fellow who had been stabbed in the heart during a gang fight (over a stolen car stereo I found out). They did not want the other gang showing up to finish the job. Then his visitors started to show up. First there were the homies who professed retailiation for him, along with the young women who wanted to try sex (I don't think they did). Occasionally some older aunts would show up and chase everyone out. This went on for two days.

Back in 2001 I wound up in a hospital for 4 nights for chest pains (not heart they found out) and I had a private room. That was more restful other than the nurses coming in several times a night for shots and/or blood samples.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Check what the upcharge for a private room is. My experience at 2 different hospitals in the Houston area has been that it was about $60 a night. Well worth it to me.

My most recent experience though was that most rooms were private and we weren't charged anything. Not sure who was in the few shared rooms.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

Using a restroom in the hospital room is against the rules? I have never even heard of that or ever seen a sign or anything. I've used the restroom in rooms while visiting plenty of times before, and have had people use my restroom when I was in the hospital.

Eww. The last thing I would want is my roomate's Old Uncle Joe going into my restroom and stinking it up

Also, many times, the hospital is monitoring how much or what is in your urine. You keep your little container in the bathroom until the nurse collects it. No way should a visitor be using that bathroom.

Your guests can use the hallway bathrooms. Never use the patient bathrooms unless you are a patient.

 

[RF536]

OP-Before you spray any kind of air freshner or body spray in the room, please check with your roomate to make sure it won't be a problem. I am very sensitive to those smells and they can cause severe migrains for me. I have been known to have to leave lines because of people who swim in their perfume.

 

[krcit]

Eww. The last thing I would want is my roomate's Old Uncle Joe going into my restroom and stinking it up

Also, many times, the hospital is monitoring how much or what is in your urine. You keep your little container in the bathroom until the nurse collects it. No way should a visitor be using that bathroom.

Your guests can use the hallway bathrooms. Never use the patient bathrooms unless you are a patient.

I agree. Also in terms of germs and stuff. Gross.


Also, I have learned from dealing with the hospital for so long with my mom. Speak up!! You don't have to be rude or a pain in the butt but there is no reason for some of these things some of you have had to deal with. The gang member the husband in the room

I wish the hospitals around here would go all private.

 

[lustergirl]

I did a short stay back in 2008 after having part of my colon removed. My first roommate was a older man than me (I was 56) in for a simular procedure and he was a really nice fellow. He was only there for one night. Then I had the room to myself for one night. Then all heck broke loose! Security took up positions outside my room and they wheeled in a young fellow who had been stabbed in the heart during a gang fight (over a stolen car stereo I found out). They did not want the other gang showing up to finish the job. Then his visitors started to show up. First there were the homies who professed retailiation for him, along with the young women who wanted to try sex (I don't think they did). Occasionally some older aunts would show up and chase everyone out. This went on for two days.

Back in 2001 I wound up in a hospital for 4 nights for chest pains (not heart they found out) and I had a private room. That was more restful other than the nurses coming in several times a night for shots and/or blood samples.

I am really surprised that they wouldn't put this person in a private room and not with another individual

 

[Minnesota!]

Hmmmm. I have never seen a hospital around here without private rooms. That seems kind of crazy to me to have to share a room. I have been hospitalized 2x, my dad was in and out b/c of cancer, my niece was in and out for 9 years, and my MIL was in and out b/c of cancer. In all those years, and a myriad of hospitals...nobody shared!

And I have never seen a sign that says patients only on the bathroom. I (and anyone I am with..) always use the patients bathroom.

 

[NikitaZee]

I agree. Also in terms of germs and stuff. Gross.


Also, I have learned from dealing with the hospital for so long with my mom. Speak up!! You don't have to be rude or a pain in the butt but there is no reason for some of these things some of you have had to deal with. The gang member the husband in the room

I wish the hospitals around here would go all private.

I am glad you suggested speaking up. Having really not a lot of hospital experience I wouldn't know what I could legitimately complain about and ask to change vs what is normal, deal with it type stuff.

I would not want my roomate's guests using the shared bathroom, given what folks here have said about urine containers, etc.

I am going to call the hospital and see If they have changed to all private rooms. That would really make my day! Some of the stories I have read here are gross, scary, inconsiderate or downright shocking

 

[SydSim]

At my hospital, each room has an antibacterial lotion in the rooms. Tell each caregiver (nurses, doctors and technicians alike) to please use it before touching you. I know that many people have theories about antibacterial stuff, but while you're in the hospital, this could keep your risk of acquiring MRSA down somewhat. And if you wanna touch my incision - ummm, could you put some gloves on please?
Can you tell that I have a little OCD. Hopefully, it has helped lessen my patients chances of getting an infection from me

And yes, having all single rooms is a wonderful things. Unfortunately, with some hospitals located in downtown city areas, converting the rooms from doubles to singles is a little difficult. Once you make a double room into a single one, you lose a bed (and therefore have to make another room). In the suburbs, this is probably much easier - just expand the hospital. In a downtown city area (like Ny or Philly), there's not much room to expand, unless you get rid of something else.

My hospital is doing just that - they have taken over another building and are transferring a lot of doctors' offices to it. Then they will make all of the rooms singles

 

[Talking Hands]

Ask! If there isn't anyone in the room, ask them for the window. We did this with my mom and they were happy to oblige.

If you really want the window. I didn't. I prefer the door so I am aware of who is entering. Also prefer the curtain open so I can see people coming and going. This may be due to being Hearing Impaired. I can't always hear people moving about and hate to be surprised.

 

[ajk912]

The hospitals I've stayed in have signs saying they are for patients only. Lots of times there are containers on the toilet to measure output after surgery plus other equipment in there. I think it's just easier on the patients and hospital staff not to have things disturbed by others. On the floors I was on there were visitor bathrooms by the elevators.

Interesting. I've never seen a sign that says bathrooms are for patients only. But then again most of the times I have been in the hospital was when I was there with my child, and it's actually easier on the staff if a parent is in the room all the time. I've had nurses show me where to find the kitchen (so I don't have to go all the way to the cafeteria) or where the sheets are for the pull out couch/bed, but never where the public bathroom is. It could be the dynamic (parent/minor relationship vs. other family), as well. The few times they were measuring her output, the nurses would say, if she peed when I wasn't here, just make sure she pees in this bowl (whatever that bowl is called).

 

[krcit]

Interesting. I've never seen a sign that says bathrooms are for patients only. But then again most of the times I have been in the hospital was when I was there with my child, and it's actually easier on the staff if a parent is in the room all the time. I've had nurses show me where to find the kitchen (so I don't have to go all the way to the cafeteria) or where the sheets are for the pull out couch/bed, but never where the public bathroom is. It could be the dynamic (parent/minor relationship vs. other family), as well. The few times they were measuring her output, the nurses would say, if she peed when I wasn't here, just make sure she pees in this bowl (whatever that bowl is called).

I think they call it a 'hat' Anyway, on the bathroom thing. If your child is in and it's a private room then of course I would use it but the few times I've had a shared room, I would be grossed out if my roommate's viitors used my hospital room bathroom. My ds was in for an overnight test a few years ago and he had a roommate so I went down the hall to the visitors bathroom. It was a children's hospital so they had bathrooms and showers for the parents to use.

 

[sbell111]

I didn't know that shared hospital rooms still existed. I assumed that this would have gone away when HIPAA went into effect.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

I'm going into the hospital for surgery next month, I should be in about 2 nights. I've only been in the hospital for childbirth, and I had my own room then. What I'd like to know is - is there any specific etiquette when you share a room with someone I should know about? Specifically, closing the curtain between the beds (I imagine I'd like to keep it closed on my side, but would that be rude or unfriendly?) Say a quick hello and introduce myself, or chat nicely when no one is visiting? I really don't know. I'm already nervous about going in, and I'm the type that would rather be alone, but I'll be in a semi-private room and don't really know what to expect. Thanks!

I don't know that there's specific etiquette for this situation, but I'd just keep the curtain closed. Nothing wrong with a polite hello and introduction, but beyond that I just wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Poohforyou]

I didn't know that shared hospital rooms still existed. I assumed that this would have gone away when HIPAA went into effect.

It's possible to abide by HIPAA regulations and have more than one patient in a room.

I had a roommate when I had surgery in August. I have no idea what the woman's name is or why she was there. Actually I'm not sure I ever even saw her. With the way the room was set up we could get into the bathroom and out of the room without passing each other's bed. The nursing staff was very nice and attentive but I don't recall them ever calling me by my name while in the room.

I was only there for about 24 hours though so maybe things would be different with a longer stay.

 

[ols386]

I didn't know that shared hospital rooms still existed. I assumed that this would have gone away when HIPAA went into effect.

In one hospital near me, that is actually a fairly new hospital, they have two patients per room.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And I've never visited anyone in another city with a semi private room (what a ridiculous name - as someone said upthread, it's simply UNprivate)

Private = one patient/bed; semi-private = two patients/beds (semi means half). Then there are quad rooms, and possibly still wards. I've been in various hospitals as either a patient or a visitor, and the only one I've ever seen with just private rooms is Celebration Health.

 

[krcit]

It's possible to abide by HIPAA regulations and have more than one patient in a room.

I had a roommate when I had surgery in August. I have no idea what the woman's name is or why she was there. Actually I'm not sure I ever even saw her. With the way the room was set up we could get into the bathroom and out of the room without passing each other's bed. The nursing staff was very nice and attentive but I don't recall them ever calling me by my name while in the room.

I was only there for about 24 hours though so maybe things would be different with a longer stay.

Not in the hospital my mom was in or that I have been in. I knew everyone of my mom's roommate's names and reason they were in In one case I even heard her blood counts. It was virtually impossible to not overhear the Drs and nurses when they spoke to the patient.