It’s hard to put demands on hospital patients when they’re busy recovering from an illness or injury. Etiquette may not be a top priority. Still, it’s important to keep a few basic pointers in mind, and hope that family members and hospital staff can help keep things running smoothly.
A friend of mine recently had a loved one who had to spend some time in a shared hospital room. The other patient was an elderly woman with hearing problems. She had the TV blasting at all hours, which made it impossible to sleep or even have a conversation.
When my friend complained to the nursing staff, they shrugged it off and said the patient had the right to keep her TV on. The patient herself was actually sleeping. It took several attempts before my friend was able to get a hospital employee to intervene.
It’s really important for staffers to monitor and alleviate this type of situation. I know many hospitals are sending their employees to etiquette training, and it’s not hard to see why. If a patient can’t sleep because of their roommate, their health is not likely to improve.