Hospital stays: what you need to know

Things to bring

To make you feel more comfortable while in the hospital, bring the following items:

• Nightclothes, including slippers and a robe
• Comfortable clothes to wear home when you are released
• Toiletries – such as toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, comb, deodorant, and razor
• A list of all the medicines you take
• Details of past illnesses, surgeries, and any allergies
• Your health insurance card
• An address book and list of names and phone numbers of people to reach in case of an emergency
• Some cash, about $10 or less for newspapers, magazines, or gift shop items

Things to leave at home

There are things you don't need in the hospital, and bringing them may cause you to worry about their safety. These include:

• Cash (more than $10), credit cards, and checkbook
• Jewelry
• Electric razors, hairdryers, and curling irons; they may not be grounded properly and could be unsafe

Checking in

When you arrive at the hospital, your first stop is "Admissions." Here, you or a family member will need to complete forms allowing the hospital to provide treatment, and release medical information to the insurance company. The admissions staff will tell you where to go next.

Safety tips

Once you are in the hospital room, you will need to exercise more caution when moving around. Here are some tips to help you prevent accidents:

• Use the call bell when you need help.
• Use the controls to lower the bed before getting in or out.
• Be careful not to trip over the wires and tubes that may be near your bed.
• Try to keep things within easy reach.
• Take only prescribed medicines, discuss any medicines you brought with your doctor.
• Be careful getting in and out of the bath or shower. Use the grab bar for support.
• Use handrails in hallways and stairways.

If you have any questions about your care, don't hesitate to ask your doctor or nurse. You may want to have a notepad by your bed so that you can write down questions as you think of them.