What are some ways to make patients more comfortable during their hospital stay?

Clear communication, in simple terms, is paramount in comforting patients. I am convinced that sitting, whenever possible, to discuss the plan, and to set expectations can be extremely valuable. I try to convey empathy, and compassion while discussing the care plan. While my visit is just part of my day, their hospitalization is a life event for them. I want them to feel heard and understood.

I completely agree. Nothing makes a patient more comfortable than transparent and kind communication. Keeping patients informed about the latest updates regarding their care or stay is crucial. Clear communication not only prevents confusion, anxiety, and misunderstandings but also significantly improves the overall care experience. Ultimately, it leads to higher satisfaction with the healthcare system.

Take care to support people with communication aids. Clean glasses. Hearing aids in and working. Slow down speech, minimise noise and distractions when having a conversation. Use non verbal cues to develop trust.

I agree and would add to communicate clearly and consistently with family members and those who help care for and support patients. As a physician who is also a former family caregiver, it was incredibly frustrating to be dismissed by healthcare providers. In addition, there were many occasions when recommendations and updates provided by one member of the healthcare team conflicted with those provided by another. Be proactive about scheduling family meetings to provide updates so that family members don’t have to chase down the doctors caring for their loved one. Not everyone can be present for morning rounds.

When I used to work inpatient, I would introduce myself and sit at bed level every morning, with body language in mind, and simply ask patients what THEIR goals were for the day. “What is most important to YOU today?” And that meant the world to many.

One of the worst examples of providing comfort I've seen (repeatedly, unfortunately) is the habit of healthcare providers interrupting patients sleep at night for purely procedural means. While there are certainly reasons to wake patients up while in an inpatient stay, there is likely little risk in delaying getting a patient's weight again until morning hours rather than 4am. It's difficult to heal from your acute condition if you are also not sleeping at night. This is just one example, but ultimately we as a healthcare industry need to continually force ourselves to recognize that process technicality needs to be balanced with consideration for the patient experience.

Warm blankets! We call it the “ER hug!” This type of simple comfort measure really does make a difference. I also try to offer ice water or a beverage if patient is able to drink, then when I get it MYSELF patients appreciate the time taken to help them. Bonus points for offering a snack to their family member or child, who often have had to wait a long time with the patient. Hungry people are irritable people, at least I can say that I am. 😊

Simple thing such as a pillow and blanket can make all the difference for patients. Also, ensuring that the area is clean and tidy can help the patient to feel more relaxed and comfortable.

Physical comfort is one of the first things that needs to be addressed. Once a patient’s pain is under control, they’re warm, comfortably positioned, they can feel safe. This is where next level learning comes in. It may seem like a small role, providing a warm blanket, a handhold wall looking eye to eye, but each of these together create a safe space for the patient to share, heal, and recover quickly with best patient outcome top of mind.

At 19 years old, following a major surgery, I was basically ignored by the nurses on my ward. Each morning they helped elderly patients with persona hygiene tasks. I wast even asked if I needed help, despite being bed bound. All I can think it was down to was my age, but they only needed to look at the surgery I'd just been through to know that I wasn't capable... They didn't, and I was left feeling uncared for and unclean. My mum had to come every day to do the things the nurses should have been doing.

Having social support during a hospital stay can be very beneficial to patients. It help to ease tension, anxiety and worry and also to reinforce education and plans of care.

In my experience the longer a patient is in the hospital the more they may feel far removed from their family, pets and friends. Interactions with various staff, chaplains, pet therapy etc. can provide distraction and promote comfort.

Encouraging social support can create a supportive community within the healthcare setting, where patients can share experiences and draw strength from one another. This interconnectedness not only alleviates feelings of isolation but also promotes a collaborative atmosphere that can enhance the overall healing environment.

Being compassionate, empathetic and provide prompt feedback. Don't give false hopes to the patients. Provide adequate comfort.

I tell all my patients the same thing in front of their friends and family who are visiting. "You always know who loves you, by who comes to see you in the hospital."

Asking the patient directly if there is anything that would make them feel more comfortable. Would they like to speak to someone while they are boarding? Is there anything currently that they are worried about or needing immediate attention. Humanizing the individual knowing that prior to their emergency/what led them to the ED there was a life moving which continues to move.

This is so a accurate and in my experience It's crucial to recognise the vital role of mental health support in hospitals. Simply by addressing both physical and mental well-being, health professionals can enhance overall patient care, promoting faster recovery and improved health outcomes. Research indicates a strong connection between mental and physical health, underscoring the significance of a comprehensive approach to patient well-being in all hospital settings all while ensuring the patient in consulted

To bring friends, family and the loved one by the family is one vital aspect to patients mental well being. One of articles found that a family member does not necessarily need to be a blood related person but it's whomever described by the patient as a family.

To further enhance patient comfort in hospitals, consider creating more personalized and welcoming room environments, like adjustable lighting and temperature, and access to relaxing music or nature sounds. Introducing therapeutic pet visits can significantly uplift patients' mood and well-being. Additionally, offering virtual reality technology for relaxation and distraction could be particularly beneficial for anxious patients or those required to stay immobile for extended periods.

Assessing patient as whole from body, mind and spirit, well being is important. Sometimes care team is very focused on the main symptom or disease being treated that the underlying issues can be neglected. Being a patient advocate and assessing impact of social determinants’ on the well-being can lead to better long term outcomes.

A critically important role of nurses is to advocate for patient needs and care. Nurses are uniquely positioned to develop rapport with patients and also to be in communication with the care team. This can help to identify areas which patients can use additional support or education which can positively impact their care.

One of the key roles in case management following the completion of a comprehensive assessment of the whole patient including the medical, health literacy and psychological components is being a patient advocate. Advocacy involves helping the patient and family to understand the situation and identify all the options available to them without judgement. Then empowering the family to make those choices and supporting them to carry out those choices.

When I send a secure chat message to a doctor or call maintenance. I do all these activities in the room with the patient involved in the dialogue. I believe that transparent honesty leads to less confusion.

In my experience, with five years of patient advocacy nursing, the secret is listening. Listening with your whole heart hearing what they’re saying, but also listening to how they’re feeling as well. This is through iContact, body language, validation, and repeating back what they have shared with you . This is an opportunity to truly engage and build trust with the patient through these avenues. The patient feels heard, understood, and now true learning and healing can occur. I always try to remember that this could be me or someone I care dearly about. Advocacy work continues every day with every interaction and through every word spoken.

Patients have the right to access health care at any time. Patient care and family care in hospitals is owed to all our clients. The removal of visiting hours will improve patient family satisfaction and ensure compliance to the right to access.

A collaborative approach could involve regular meetings where doctors, nurses, and therapists discuss a patient's progress, exchange insights, and collectively adjust the care plan based on the evolving needs of the individual. This ensures that each member of the care team is well-informed and aligned, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and patient-centered healthcare experience.

This is one of many important ways to help patients feel comfortable and their identified support system. Regular interactions with patients can team insures patient has access to changing information regarding their plan of care assisting in next steps and the best outcomes and preparation for discharge. We must remember at the CENTER of the collaborative healthcare team is the Patient who must be included at all times as we help customize a care plans that fully considers and supports what they need physically, psychologically and socially for the optimal outcome.

Collaboration is key, many times providers never talk to each other or look into medication that may interfere with other medications. Having patients constantly repeat their story over and over is so frustrating to patients. Take time to read and learn about your patients…most times it is not the providers fault it’s the bottom line of the hospital/clinic bc fee for service reimbursement continues to decrease!

As a retired critical care nurse with a wife with stage 4 cancer with many adverse events from treatment. I find communication and collaboration between the multiple disciplinary services is of paramount importance. My wife can’t tolerate the cancer treatment without treating a blood clot. This refusal to treat has delayed her entire care. Another service refused to get biopsies during procedures after the oncologist asked for them. The doctor said she didn’t need them because he said I don’t believe it is cancer (Mets). If an oncologist asks another service for help, they should assist not put up barriers.

Collaboration of care. This is an important and vital way to involve the patient in their care and involving them in the decision-making process. Empowers the patient to learn, engage, ask questions a little bit more about the care, and what they choose to do for their own care and treatments. Through advocacy work, important questions and concerns can be wrapped to the team and often the physician. The physician then has an opportunity to rebuild trust, sit down, explain in layman‘s terms “the why”.

Use terminology such as next steps and next stop in care. Patients can move to various units based on the level of care needed or maybe their next stop is a skilled service before being able to be discharged to home. Don’t wait for these discussions. Include the patient/care partner so they better understand the journey ahead of them and can be a partner in the recovery. In addition having up front discussions a potential need for continued care early on in the hospitalization can help bring the patient along in understanding the next steps needed to achieve their next stop in their recovery. Knowing the pathway is very important in reducing fear and anxiety experienced in the unknown and improving throughput goals.

Since "comfort" means different things to different people in different situations, it is important to ask them . . . "Your comfort is very important to me, what specifically could I do to make you more comfortable?" We could take all sorts of actions that we believe helps people be more comfortable, yet, we miss the mark (and waste time/energy) if we don't inquire as to what they specifically want and need.

Make sure their room is set up in a manner that they can get to what they need. Far too many times I’ve seen patients try to reach for their water glass or their lip balm and it’s not in a reachable place and they get frustrated. It’s important to have your patients most desired objects within their reach :) I was a breast cancer patient last year and there were many times I had to bother someone to get a comfort item for me. It would’ve been helpful if that object was closer so I could’ve reached it myself. It gives the patient back that bit of control that they need in the hospital environment :)

By implementing these strategies, hospitals can create a more comfortable and positive environment for patients, which can lead to improved healing outcomes and overall satisfaction with their care. Remember, even small gestures can make a big difference in a patient's experience. A kind word, a listening ear, or a helping hand can go a long way in making their hospital stay less stressful and more manageable.

Fostering a "Therapeutic Relationship " is crucial, emphasizing elements like unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness. Healthcare professionals and patients must actively engage, listen even in silence cultivating a robust therapeutic bond. A positive therapeutic relationship not only enhances therapeutic outcomes but also strengthens confidence in scientific principles and disciplines.