Planning Your Hospital Stay

In an effort to make your hospital stay as successful and pleasant as possible, the surgical services team asks that you read this booklet. We encourage you and your family to help plan and take part in your care. We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have.

Report to the Admitting Department.

Bring your Health Card with you.

Please be aware that there is always a possibility of your surgery being cancelled due to an emergency or due to bed availability. We make every effort to avoid cancellation of surgery, but sometimes it is unavoidable. If your surgery is cancelled on the day of your procedure your surgeon’s office will contact you with a new date for surgery.

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Hospital Code of Behaviour

The hospital believes that patients and staff are entitled to an environment free of harassment and aggression. Physical or verbal abuse of staff, patients, family members or visitors will not be tolerated. We encourage mutual respect and tolerance at all times.

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Planning for your hospital stay.

Personal Care Items: Please bring your own housecoat, pyjamas, slippers, toothbrush & paste, mouthwash, hairbrush or comb, deodorant, other personal grooming items.

Glasses/Contact Lenses: Bring your glass case with you to store your glasses. If you have contact lenses it is best for you to wear your glasses and leave your lenses at home. However, if this is not possible bring your lens container and cleaning solution. Remember to tell your nurse you are wearing contact lenses. They must be removed before you go to the Operating Room. Always place your glasses or lenses in the proper storage case.

Hearing Aid: If you have a hearing aid, bring it and a storage container with you. Do NOT wrap hearing aids in kleenex or paper towels. Always place in the proper storage case.

Dentures/Partials: You may wear your dentures to the hospital. They will be removed prior to you going to the operating room and placed in a labelled denture cup. Do NOT wrap dentures or partial plates in kleenex or paper towels. Always place in a labelled denture cup.

Valuables: Leave all valuables such as jewellery, money, credit cards at home. You may wish to bring a small amount of cash with you if you wish to purchase anything from the gift shop.

The hospital assumes no responsibility for patient’s possessions. This includes hearing aids, glasses and dentures.

You are welcome to bring battery powered radios and ear phones and electric razors to the hospital. No other electrical appliances are allowed.

All personal items should be labelled with your name.

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Day Before Surgery

Health & Hygiene: If you develop a fever, cold or flu-like symptoms please call your surgeon before coming to the hospital. A good night’s rest before surgery is important.

It is important to clean your skin as well as possible to lessen the chance of infection. Using chlorehexidine soap
(ie: Dial) take a shower or tub bath the night before and the morning of your surgery. Cleanse the area where you have having the operation by rubbing it with soapy water for 5 minutes. Rinse and dry.

Remove nail polish, make-up and all jewellery.

All body piercing jewellery must be removed prior to surgery.

Food & Drink: Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your operation. Do not drink alcohol for 48 hours before your surgery.

Medications: Follow the instructions your doctor gave you about taking any medications on the day of your operation. If you are to take any medications you may do so with a sip of water. Make sure you tell your nurse which medications you have taken when you arrive at the hospital.

Smoking: Do not smoke after your evening meal the night before surgery. Smoking can cause more secretions in your lungs and you could have problems with your breathing after your surgery.

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Day of Surgery

When you arrive at the hospital report to the Admitting Department. The Admitting Department will direct you to the Surgical Day Care Unit where you will be prepared for your surgery. You will be assigned a bed following your surgery on one of the in patient surgical units.

Telephones: Telephones are available at each bedside. You make arrangements for telephone service through the Admitting department or through the ward clerk.

Cellular phones can not be used inside the hospital.

Televisions: You can make arrangements to rent a television by calling the number posted in your assigned room or by filling out a paper request which is found in the Family Lounge. There is also a television in the Family Lounge if you do not want to rent one.

No Smoking: For the health and safety of our patients and staff, Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre is Smoke-Free. Smoking is prohibited for all patients, visitors and staff.

Visiting Hours: Visitors are welcome between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Only two visitors at a time are allowed at the bedside. You can visit with your family and friends in the lounge. Children under the age of 12 are only permitted with permission from the unit manager and must be accompanied by an adult. It is important for patients to have appropriate rest to help you heal after surgery.

In consideration of all patients we ask that you respect this policy.

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After Surgery

Nutrition: Initially you may have an intravenous (IV). When you are able to tolerate fluids and food they will be added to your diet as ordered by your doctor. Your doctor decides what kind of diet you may have. If you have allergies to food or wish a special diet, please tell your nurse. You may wish to talk to the dietician about your needs.

Pain Control: It is important for you to have rest and good pain control. Your doctor decides which pain medication is best for you and how much and how often you should receive it.

“Only you know how much pain you have.”

Tell your nurse when you are having pain and how well your medication is working.

Some Tips to help you control the pain and stay active:

Tell the nurse when you are having pain.
Share with the nurse ways that you have used in the past for relieving pain.
Don’t let the pain get out of hand.
Ask for pain medication 45 minutes before planned activities and exercises.
Use a 10 - point scale when describing the pain. 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain possible.

Urination: Depending on the type of surgery that you are having, your urine may be measured. This may require a urinary catheter to be inserted to drain your bladder. The catheter would be connected to a collection bag. The catheter may be removed or left in place depending on your condition and needs.

Bowel Movements: There can be a change in your bowel habits. After abdominal surgery it may take a few days to pass gas. You may have constipation or diarrhea or notice a change in colour. Your doctor may start you on a laxative or stool softener because pain medication can sometimes cause constipation. Remember to drink plenty of liquids.

Transfer to St. Joseph’s Care Group: If you are having orthopedic surgery you may be transferred to St. Joseph’s hospital after surgery for further physio and rehabilitation. If your doctor wants you to go to St. Joseph’s hospital we will arrange this for you. You will be transferred from the surgical unit to St. Joseph’s hospital when your doctor feels you are ready.

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Deep Breathing and Coughing

One of the risks of having an operation is lung congestion and pneumonia. Doing these deep breathing and coughing exercises after your operation will help prevent this. You should practice deep breathing and coughing the way you were shown by the nurse in the Pre Admission Clinic.

Breathing and Coughing Exercise

Sit on a chair.
Place your hands on your lower ribs so that you can feel your chest move as you breathe in and out.
Breathe out gently and fully. (You will feel your ribs move down and inward toward the middle of your body.)
Breathe deeply and fully in through your nose, filling your lungs, from bottom to top. Hold your breath for 4 to 5 seconds.
Breathe all the air out through your mouth and nose.
REPEAT THIS 5 TIMES, THEN
Lean forward slightly.
Press a pillow over your stomach.
Breathe out gently.
Breathe in fully and then give three short coughs. Take a deep breath with your mouth open and give 1 or 2 strong coughs from the bottom of your chest, not from your throat.

Repeat the whole deep breathing and coughing exercise 2 more times. Do this 4 times a day before your operation.

After your operation do these exercises 6 – 8 times a day. The nurse will remind you.

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Ankle/Leg Exercises

Another risk of having an operation is developing blood clots in your legs. Doing ankle and leg exercises after your operation will help prevent this by increasing blood circulation. Practice these exercises at home.

The Pre Admission Clinic nurse will tell you which exercises you should do and will show you how to do them.

Foot and Ankle Exercise: Keeping knees still, pump ankles up and down. Then rotate ankles in a circle clockwise and then counter clockwise. Pull your foot up and push the back of your knee into the bed, tighten the muscles in the front of your thigh. Hold 5 seconds and relax.

After your operation do these exercises 10 times each, 2-3 times a day. The nurse will remind you.

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Activity

It is important to remain as active as possible. The length of time which you must stay in bed will vary depending on your type of surgery. Hospital staff will help you out of bed the first couple of times and then as needed.

You may have some pain, but don’t let it stop you from doing things for yourself. Each day, you will feel like doing more. You can help yourself from a lying position, in bed, to a sitting position by:

Rolling on your side and swinging your feet over the side of the bed.
Pushing yourself to a sitting position with your hand, by pushing on the bed.

Early walking also helps the blood to circulate. Walking as much as possible is very important unless your doctor advises otherwise.

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Planning for Discharge

Planning to go home begins as early as your first day on the unit. Your health care team will help you prepare for going home.

To help you manage at home, you may need health services in your home or community. Before you leave the hospital your health care team will arrange these services if they are needed.

On the day of your discharge, please be ready to leave the hospital between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. You may want to have someone stay with you at home for the first few days after discharge if needed. If you have small children arrange for someone to help care for them for a few days. Arrange for your transportation home ahead of time. If you can not leave by 11:00 a.m. you may be asked to wait in the lounge or the lobby if you are able.

Your nurse will provide you with a discharge instruction sheet before you leave.

We hope that by speaking with the nurse in Pre Admission Clinic and by reading this book some of the more common concerns and questions you have are addressed, and the fears you may have about your stay in the hospital are lessened.

As part of our commitment to quality health care, the team welcomes your feedback regarding how they met your needs. Concerns can be communicated through your team members or the manager of the unit.

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