How can I be a 'good patient' while hospitalized?
Being a good hospital patient means simply following the golden rule: follow the instructions provided to you by your doctors and your nurses. If you are unsteady on your feet, do not attempt to get out of bed or walk without assistance. If there is concern about getting enough calories, try your best to eat the foods that are offered to you. Do not refuse medications that haven't been ordered. If you are receiving physical therapy, make every effort you can to carry out the exercise that the therapists are trying to teach you. Try to be patient with the nursing staff. They have a lot of work to do and sometimes they cannot always get it done in the timely way. Try to meet everybody else's needs when staying in hospital. If you need assistance getting out of bed, please try to advise the nurses and aides in advance so that they can help you with your bathroom schedule in an orderly way. Do not call unnecessarily for minor issues that can wait and, if at all possible, have a family member in attendance to help you communicate with hospital staff.
