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Helpful Hints
  • If the patient is sharing a room, be respectful of the roommate. He or she might need more care or rest and will greatly appreciate privacy.
  • Unless the patient requests you to stay, keep your visit brief so that he or she can rest.
  • Avoid comparing the patient's circumstances with someone else's. The patient needs to do well given their own medical condition, not worry about how they compare to someone else.
  • If the patient is terminal, you may want to talk with a member of the clergy or other professional about what to say.

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Show Summary

Do's and Don'ts of the Hospital Visit


at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

Have you every visited a friend or loved one in the hospital and wondered how to act? Despite good intentions, these visits make most people nervous. Roxanne Galvin, a registered nurse with years of patient experience, talks with Suzanne about how to make your next visit to the hospital more pleasant for you and the patient.

Before visiting the hospital, find out if the patient is up to receiving visitors and if he or she can have flowers or food you might want to bring. If possible, determine when he or she will be awake and alert and if others will be visiting at the same time. Too many visitors at once can be overwhelming to a person who is trying to get well.

Unless the patient requests it, don't change the lighting in the room. Avoid touching any of the medical apparatus or reviewing the medical chart. Give the patient space unless they want more physical contact, such as holding their hand or a light massage.

You may be concerned about what to say to the patient. According to Roxanne, it's important to avoid making negative comments about the hospital, the care that the patient is receiving, or the circumstances of the illness. Ask how he or she is feeling, what the doctors have said, and if there's anything you can do to make them feel more comfortable. Be a good listener, and if possible, share brief news of the "outside" world with the patient. Focus on conversation that will lift the patient's spirits.

Visiting someone in the hospital is never fun, but with common sense and good etiquette, you can make it more pleasant for both of you.
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