In every room, we have a white board that is supposed to be used by the nurse on duty to note his or her name and other pertinent information for the patient and the patient's family. It is a handy, low-tech reference tool that is very helpful to people during their stay in the hospital.
Here is a note to me from a family member of a patient recently discharged. I am hoping nurses in our hospital and elsewhere will take something useful from this comment.
I noticed something funny during this hospital stay -- the white board has taken on an interesting life of its own. We had a nurse who did not use it. She turned out to be the kind of nurse who makes you nervous that she's not paying attention -- you know, the pain killer dose was not written in when it was given, that kind of thing. Then we realized: We felt that way from her first entry to the room, when she did not "sign in." It really is an interesting little step that makes you feel good. I don't understand it, but I sure like it.
