Definition Hospital admission involves staying at a hospital for at least one night or more.

Purpose Staying in the hospital overnight is done because the individual is too sick to stay at home, requires 24 hour nursing care, and!or is receiving medications and undergoing tests and!or surgery that can only be performed in the hospital setting. Description "n individual may be admitted to the hospital for a positive e#perience, such as having a baby, or because they are undergoing an elective surgery or procedure, or because they are being admitted through the emergency department. $eing admitted through the emergency department is the most stressful of these circumstances because the event is une#pected and may be a ma%or life crisis. $efore the person is taken to their room, admitting procedures are performed. &he person's personal data is recorded and entered into the hospital's computer system. &his data may include(

name address home and )ork telephone number date of birth place of employment occupation emergency contact information, or the names and telephone numbers of those individuals the hospital should contact if the person being admitted needs emergency care or their condition )orsens significantly insurance coverage reason for hospitali*ation allergies to medications or foods religious preference, including )hether or not one )ishes a clergy member to visit

&here may be several forms to fill out. +ne form may be a detailed medical and medication history. &his history )ill include past hospitali*ations and surgeries. Having this information readily available )ill make the process move faster, and can allo) a family member or friend )ho is accompanying the person to help fill out the forms more easily. &he hospital may ask if there are any advance directives. &his refers to forms that have been filled out indicating )hat medical decisions one )ants others to make on their behalf. +ne form is called a living )ill and clearly tells )hich specific resuscitation efforts the person does or does not )ant to have performed on them in order to save or e#tend their life. "nother form may be a durable po)er to attorney. &his is a form stating )hom the patient )ishes to make medical decisions for them if they themselves are unable to do so, such as if they are in a coma. Some hospitals have blank forms that the individual can use to make these designations, others may %ust ask if the forms have been filled out, and if so to add a copy of them into the person's medical record. &hey are considered legally binding, and an attorney can assist in filling them out. During the time spent in admitting, a plastic bracelet )ill be placed on the person's )rist )ith their name, age, date of birth, room number, and medical record number on it. " separate bracelet is added that lists allergies. ,orms are completed and signed, so

that the patient is giving full consent to have the hospital personnel take care of them )hile they are in the hospital during that particular hospital stay. Subsequent hospital stays require ne) consent forms. +nce all the admitting information has been completed, the ne#t step is usually being taken to one's room. -ost people stay in a semi private room, )hich means that there are t)o people to a room. .n some circumstances, a person's medical condition may require staying in a private room. .f there are private rooms available, and the individual is )illing to pay the e#tra cost /insurance companies generally only cover the cost of a semi private room0, it may be possible to have a private room. -ost hospital rooms are set up so that one bed is closer to the door, and the other is ne#t to a )indo). &here are curtains that can be dra)n completely around the bed so that some degree of privacy is possible. +nce taken to a room, the nurse taking care of the patient )ill go over the medical and medication history, and orient the person to the room. &his means that they )ill e#plain ho) to ad%ust bed height, ho) to use the nurse call button, sho) )here the bathroom is located, and e#plain ho) to use the bedside telephone and television. &he cost for the telephone and television are not usually covered by insurance. &here is usually a calendar in the room, to help the patient keep track of the date, as it can be disorienting to be in an unfamiliar place, especially over several days or )eeks. &here may be limitations on using the bathroom, if the person's doctor feels that the patient's condition is such that they should not get out of bed. &hese kinds of decisions are made )ith the person's safety and medical condition in mind. .f the person is not thinking clearly, perhaps because of some medication they are receiving, the side rails of the bed may be put up, to prevent falling out of bed. &he nurse )ill revie) the doctor's orders, such as )hat tests have been scheduled, )hether or not they can get out of bed for the bathroom or to )alk around the unit, )hat medications they )ill be getting, and )hether or not there are restrictions on )hat they can eat. &he hospital )ill supply to)els, sheets, and blankets, but some people like to bring something personal )ith them from home. $ecause of the risk of infections being transferred from one patient to another, one may prefer to leave things at home. .f one does choose to bring in something personal, it should be )ashed )ith )arm or hot )ater and soap to make sure that germs are not brought home from the hospital. Sometimes )hen people are admitted to the hospital they need e#tremely close observation that can only be given in speciali*ed care called an intensive care unit. $ecause of the severity of their condition, visiting hours are more restricted than in the regular rooms. .t may be that only one or t)o people can visit at a time, and only for a fe) minutes at a time. +nce the person's condition improves, they may then be transferred to a room )ith a less rigid visitation policy. .f an individual has a surgical procedure performed, they )ill spend a fe) hours in a recovery area. &his is to make sure that the person's condition is stable before returning to the regular room. 1isiting is limited in the recovery area, and the person may spend most of the time sleeping, as the effects of the surgical anesthesia )ear off. .f the person entering the hospital is a child, the parents or guardian )ill fill out the hospital forms. -ost hospitals allo) parents and guardians to stay overnight in the hospital )ith the child, and to be )ith them 24 hours a day. -any hospitals have special areas for children to play in, and even areas in )hich they do not have anything done to them )hich is painful, so they can completely rela#. Preparation

.f the hospitali*ation is prearranged, there are preparations that )ill make the process go more smoothly. .t is helpful to have a list of all medications currently being taken, the dosages, ho) often they are taken, and the reason for taking them. &he list should also include any allergies to food and medications, including a description of the reaction, and )hen the food or medication )as last taken. &he list should include over the counter /+&20 and prescription medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbal and home remedies. .f the hospital stay involves surgery in )hich there is the potential for significant blood loss, it may be possible to arrange to have blood dra)n and stored so that in the event of a transfusion, the individual receives his or her o)n blood. .f the hospital stay is an e#tended one, a list of family and friends, )ith their telephone numbers, can make it easier to stay in touch )ith people )ho can come and visit, or offer support by telephone. .t is not a good idea to bring anything of value to the hospital as there are many times )hen one could be out of the room. Ho)ever, it may be helpful to have some pocket change available if one needs to make some small purchases at the hospital gift shop, such as a ne)spaper. .f one is going to visit someone in the hospital, change or one dollar bills to use at vending machines may come in handy. " small bag can be brought into the hospital that contains(

night clothes /&he hospital supplies their o)n, but some people like to )ear familiar clothing3 some people use the hospital outfits to decrease the chance of staining their o)n clothing or bringing germs home from the hospital.0 a robe slippers clothes for the return trip home reading material for the hospital stay hobby materials such as knitting or a book of cross)ord pu**les reading glasses personal care items such as comb, brush, and toothbrush /most hospitals supply these items, but many individuals prefer to have their o)n from home0

.t is best not to bring in any medication from home unless it has been prearranged )ith the physician and hospital staff prior to hospitali*ation. &his is to prevent an error from occurring by having the person taking one dose from their o)n medicine and then being given another dose from the hospital pharmacy.