Guide
Navigating a Hospital Stay
This guide shares practical tips for navigating a hospital stay by focusing on everyday life in the hospital. It helps patients prepare for admission, work effectively with their healthcare team, stay safe and comfortable, prepare for discharge, and engage family and friends throughout their hospital stay.
Primary audience: Patients, families, and caregivers navigating a hospital stay.
Additional audiences: Healthcare professionals, hospital staff, patient advocates, case managers, discharge planners, and care coordinators.
Topics Covered
- Preparing for your hospital stay by bringing important documents, medications, assistive devices, and comfort items.
- Building a positive working relationship with your healthcare team by communicating your goals, preferences, and concerns.
- Staying safe by speaking up when something doesn't seem right and participating in infection prevention.
- Preparing early for discharge by understanding your recovery plan, home support needs, and follow-up care.
- Involving trusted family members or friends in ways that support your recovery while respecting your need for rest and privacy.
- Knowing the people and services that support your care in the hospital, including hospitalists, charge nurses, care coordination, patient advocates, and financial counselors.
Why This Resource Matters
Hospital stays can be overwhelming, leaving patients uncertain about what to bring, how to communicate with their healthcare team, how to stay safe and comfortable, and how to prepare for recovery at home. This guide provides practical strategies and questions to help patients actively participate in their care throughout their hospital stay.
What's Inside
- What to Bring
- Working With Your Healthcare Team
- Making Yourself Comfortable
- Engaging Family and Friends
- Practicing Safety
- Preparing to Go Home
- Questions to Ask the Healthcare Team
- People and Services to Know (Hospitalist, Charge Nurse, Care Coordination, Patient Advocate, Financial Counselor)
Download the Resource
Formatted PDF
Includes graphics and layout.
Download PDF of Navigating a Hospital Stay (PDF, opens in a new tab)Additional Resources from Other Organizations
- AHRQ – Be Prepared for a Hospital Stay (opens in a new tab)
Provides practical guidance on preparing for hospitalization, asking questions, understanding your care, staying safe during your hospital stay, and planning for discharge.
- Next Step in Care – Hospital Care and Transitions (opens in a new tab)
Offers guides and checklists for patients and family caregivers on hospital admissions, discharge planning, care transitions, medication management, and preparing for recovery at home.
- MedlinePlus – Help Prevent Hospital Errors (opens in a new tab)
Offers practical guidance for staying safe during a hospital stay, communicating with your healthcare team, asking questions, and taking an active role in your care.
Continue Learning
Keep exploring with another resource from the Center for Person-Centered Care.
Guide
Managing Changes in Function After Illness or Injury
Recovery often continues long after discharge. Learn how to plan for changes in function and everyday life.
Explore Resource – Managing Changes in Function After Illness or InjuryTake an active role in your hospital care. Ask the questions that help make your stay safer, prepare you for recovery, and support your return to everyday life.
The Health Guides, Visual Snapshots, and Clinical Practice Resources were reviewed by a physician for clinical accuracy and by other reviewers to improve readability, clarity, and ease of understanding.
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