Persimmony's Profile

I work in a hospital and all of these are really great ideas to have handy! I spend A LOT of time in the hospital and I keep most of the aforementioned items in my locker (or in my tote that I carry into work) like a variety pack of individually wrapped teas with those little packets of honey you get with your chicken nuggets, extra undies (and God-forbid a stock of tampons and panty-liners), a big bottle of ibuprofen, reading material, anti-p deodorant, toothbrush/paste, a change of scrubs AND a change of street clothes, a variety of footwear (especially now that it's winter and I need to alternate between snow boots and Crocs), a lot of hair ties, the list goes on and on.

And somewhere in the middle of a god-awful 17 hour shift, it's nice to be able to use a dry shampoo. I whole-heartedly recommend this. It eats up unwanted oils and odors, it's hypoallergenic, and it's not heavily fragranced. That's a big thing in the hospital.. Family members staying with their loved ones tend to overdo it with the perfumes to mask their lack of bathing, but it's really frowned upon. A lot of patients are very sensitive to smells and you'd be surprised how far perfumes can travel.

I may be betraying my own kind here, but I've got a few tips for people who are out of their element.. Ask if the kitchen can make a tray up for you so you can eat with your loved one (but please don't nibble off their plates, as we usually record what they've eaten). Most hospitals have courtesy carts for the families who are sitting with terminal patients. These come with coffee, soda, water bottles, and a variety of snacks. Don't be afraid of hospital food! I know their is some stigma attached to hospital food, but it's not as bad as it seems. I can't speak for all hospitals, but my cafeteria has a whole refrigerated section with yogurts, fruit medleys, vegetable plates, and a variety of salads, wraps, and sandwiches. We've even got Naked drinks! We've got a section with bagels, breads, and donuts (which are discounted in the afternoon because they're thrown out at night). There's an espresso, cappuccino, and coffee machine. The hot food is actually made fresh by chefs who can accommodate all kinds of diets. We, for instance, have gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Ice-water is always free. I think I'm rambling about hospital food and going completely off-topic.. But just keep in mind that cafeterias aren't as scary as they once were and you don't necessarily have to rely on those shelf-stable snacks.

More tips.. If you don't have basic toiletries, hospitals do carry those things. And the nursing staff can generally sympathize with family who stays by their loved ones bedside and we like making your stay comfortable as well, so just ask and we'll probably be more than happy to give you a toothbrush!

Aaand that'll be the end of my two (three, four, five, ... ?) cents. ^o^