Treat Hospital Patients with Respect
People in the hospital should be treated with utmost respect by their visitors. Consider these suggestions:
Leave your phone in the car or turned off (Don't text or tweet during a visit)
- If on a longer visit, make it clear that the patient doesn't need to entertain you; express that you're happy to spend a few hours with them just watching TV or reading a book
- Try not to linger in ward hallways or in front of other patients' doorways while carrying on conversations
- Avoid eating in the patient's room, as food odors may linger or make the patient nauseous
- Avert your eyes from patients in other rooms so they don't feel like you're staring at them
- If you're visiting someone in a semi-private room, keep your voice low and your visit brief
