Your nurses realize that being hospitalized can disrupt daily life for you and your loved ones. While you are in the hospital, the nursing staff works with you to meet your individual needs.
At Saint Vincent, your care is managed and coordinated by a registered nurse (RN) who directs a team of caregivers. This care is designed to meet your needs as well as those of your family. We make every effort to accommodate any special requests you or your family may have, such as changes in visiting hours. If you have any special requests, please ask your RN.
The nursing associates want to improve services offered to you. Each nursing unit is directed by a team leader who is available to address any issues that may arise during your stay. This leader may be reached by asking any staff member.
During your stay, you have contact with many people providing care, from nurses and doctors to individuals drawing blood and taking X-rays.
You also meet health care professionals in training. This group may include student nurses, family practice residents, and lab and X-ray technicians. Saint Vincent is proud to serve as a teaching hospital, offering experiences that enhance the quality of care we provide and you expect. Each Saint Vincent associate who enters your room wears a nametag listing the relevant department and profession.
You are encouraged to bring personal items such as slippers, pajamas and toiletries to make your stay more comfortable. Your private room includes a bedside table and closet for storage.
Items that are easily lost or broken, such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentures and hearing aids, can be placed in the drawer of your bedside stand. Rather than wrapping dentures in a tissue, please ask your nurse for a denture cup. Other personal belongings can be kept in the closet or drawer space provided in your room, where they will not be disturbed unless you give someone permission to do so.
We ask that you leave valuables and electrical devices such as radios at home. Your nursing team is focused on your comfort and medical care and is unable to keep track of these items for you. We do not want any to go missing, and cannot take responsibility for them.
Because of the potential for medical equipment failures due to interference, using mobile phones and other mobile devices is prohibited in many areas of the health center. Please obey all posted signs pertaining to the permitted use of cellular and portable devices in designated areas.
Meals are provided any time between 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM through our room service-style menu and ordering program, Cuisine on Call. The menu is located in your room and provides a wide variety of food selections, corresponding to your nutritional needs.
A patient support associate delivers your trays, cleans your room daily and assists you with hospitality services.
If nutritional assessment or education is needed, a registered dietitian will provide these services. Questions about your diet or meals should be directed to the food and nutrition department, extension 5620.
Since smoking and tobacco use contribute to many health problems, Saint Vincent Hospital and its affiliates have instituted a smoke-free policy. Smoking is prohibited on any Saint Vincent property, inside or outside, owned or leased.
This policy serves everyone’s health and well-being and has been endorsed by the Saint Vincent medical/dental staff and the Saint Vincent Board of Trustees. To prepare you for your stay, Saint Vincent doctors and staff are ready to assist you with smoking cessation. Please consult your doctor about nicotine-replacement products or other therapies.
If you are taking medication at home, please bring a list of the drug names, dosages and times you take them. This list helps the nurses who give you prescribed medications and monitor your dosages while you are in the hospital.
You do not need to bring your medications with you for your stay. The pharmacy at Saint Vincent fills all prescriptions ordered by your doctor. After your discharge, you can fill prescriptions at your local pharmacy.
Your room may have two wastebaskets, one lined with a red bag and one lined with a clear bag. The basket with the red lining is for any material with blood or body fluids and is most often used by nurses and doctors. The basket lined with the clear bag can be used by you and your visitors to dispose of paper, tissues, food wrappers or other trash.
