A hospital stay can be an overwhelming experience. Being in a different environment, not knowing what to expect and not fully understanding the treatment being given, are just a few reasons why it is common for people to have feelings of uncertainty, anxiety and vulnerability.
Other reasons that a hospital stay may be overwhelming include feeling overloaded with information, having to make decisions about healthcare, and having to put your trust in health care professionals.
Knowing what to expect can make a hospital stay run more smoothly. I have had various stays in hospital and although they may have different processes, there are some general similarities.
I have been admitted to hospital after going to the Emergency Department. Some things that I’ve been glad to have taken with me to the Emergency Department are my antiretroviral medications, my phone and charger, and something to pass the time like a book or a crossword.
In my experience, the wait in Emergency Departments can be extremely long. Personally I don’t mind the wait because when it is my turn, I have always found the medical staff to be extremely thorough.
A triage nurse will usually see patients within a reasonable time frame and assess their condition. Then depending on the needs of the patient they may see a Nurse Practitioner or a series of doctors who give options on the next steps.
Sometimes, I have been admitted to hospital because I have had a planned surgery booked. Before the surgery there is a pre-admission process. This can be either at a clinic or as a phone consultation and may include seeing different specialists such as an anaesthetist and/ or a pharmacist.
I find the pre-admission process a great opportunity to bring up any concerns or needs I may have. One specific concern for people living with HIV may be the importance of taking antiretroviral medication consistently and how to ensure this will be administered correctly. Another concern for people living with HIV regarding their hospital stay may be patient privacy.
On the day of the surgery, there are usually more questions to answer. I always think the more information I give the hospital staff, the better the treatment I will get. However, there have been situations when I haven’t answered questions, especially if I’m feeling uncomfortable and instead I’ve used phrases like ‘How is that question relevant to my healthcare?’
I have found on the whole that medical staff have been reassuring and have guided me through the whole process.
Afterwards, I have woken up in a recovery room, then I’ve been taken to a ward. Wards may have lots of other patients and feel like a big long hallway, or sometimes have 2, 4 or 6 beds in a room. Once I had a room and bathroom all to myself.
In the ward, nurses do observations like checking temperature and blood pressure and they administer medication. My antiretrovirals have generally been popped in a locked drawer near my bed and the nurses take them out and give them to me when needed. They document when I take them so that they can have a better idea of what is going on for me. There’s also a buzzer beside the bed to call the nurses. I was hesitant to use the buzzer at first as I didn’t want to bother anyone. But the nurses are usually more than happy to help.
Advocating for myself in hospital can be difficult. If anyone in hospital is lucky enough to have family members or friends to support them during their stay, then definitely call on them.
If a serious situation arises that needs to be dealt with immediately, then you can ask to speak to the Nurse in Charge. A Nurse in Charge is usually more apt at dealing with difficult situations and providing a suitable outcome and will escalate the issue if needed.
Anyone who has serious concerns regarding their treatment or experiences worrying changes in their condition, and needs urgent action to be taken, can start a process called REACH. This is a method that helps patients, carer/s, and families to escalate their concerns with staff about worrying changes in a patient’s condition. It stands for Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, and Help. In Queensland a similar process is called Ryan’s Rule.
When leaving hospital, anyone who needs transport to get home or help at home then I would suggest letting the nurses know before your discharge, or ask to see a Social Worker. It may take some time to organise so the sooner the nurses know, the better.
I have been quite exhausted after a stay in hospital and my recovery always seems to take longer than I imagine. But with rest and patience, I do get back to my old self.
– Kim
Published in Talkabout #210 September 2024
