Admitting,Admitting, Transferring, and Transferring, and

Discharging PatientsDischarging Patients

Admission Anxiety…Admission Anxiety…Admission can Admission can

cause anxiety and cause anxiety and fearfear

Transferring from Transferring from one room to the one room to the next is an next is an example… the example… the patient has to patient has to adjust to the new adjust to the new environmentenvironment

Health Care WorkersHealth Care Workers

It is very important that the a health It is very important that the a health care worker makes a good first care worker makes a good first impression and makes the patient feel impression and makes the patient feel “at home”“at home”

Some Examples…Some Examples…

Being courteous, supportive, kind, and Being courteous, supportive, kind, and giving clear instructions on how to giving clear instructions on how to follow proceduresfollow procedures

Health Care Workers…Health Care Workers…

Do not rush when admitting, Do not rush when admitting, transferring, or discharging a patient.transferring, or discharging a patient.

Allow the individual to ask questionsAllow the individual to ask questions

(if you do not know the answer ask a (if you do not know the answer ask a supervisor.)supervisor.)

Admission, Transfer, or Admission, Transfer, or Discharge Forms…Discharge Forms…

Facilities have a specific form for each Facilities have a specific form for each formform

Forms list the procedures that must be Forms list the procedures that must be performed and will vary slightly from performed and will vary slightly from facility to facilityfacility to facility

Information must be complete and Information must be complete and accurate accurate

If patient does not know answer If patient does not know answer to a question, a relative of the to a question, a relative of the person responsible for patient person responsible for patient may provide information.may provide information.

Questions regarding Questions regarding medications or allergies are medications or allergies are answered by the nurseanswered by the nurse

Admitting…Admitting…

Certain procedures have to be Certain procedures have to be followed…followed…

Vital signs, height and weight Vital signs, height and weight measurements, and collection of a measurements, and collection of a routine urine specimenroutine urine specimen

Use good technique while performing Use good technique while performing these proceduresthese procedures

List patient’s possessions… clothing, List patient’s possessions… clothing, valuables, and personal itemsvaluables, and personal items

Family members may take clothing Family members may take clothing items homeitems home

List must be checked by both health List must be checked by both health care worker and patientcare worker and patient

At the time of transfer or discharge, At the time of transfer or discharge, list must be checked to make sure list must be checked to make sure that patient has all belongingsthat patient has all belongings

If family does not If family does not take clothing take clothing home, it should home, it should be put in safe be put in safe placeplace

Money is counted, Money is counted, recorded, and recorded, and kept in walletkept in wallet

Equipment…Equipment…

Patient and Faculty should be oriented Patient and Faculty should be oriented with instructions on how to operate with instructions on how to operate equipment such asequipment such asHow to operate the call signal, bed How to operate the call signal, bed

controls, television remote, and other controls, television remote, and other equipment providedequipment provided

Also visiting hours, location of lounges, Also visiting hours, location of lounges, smoking regulations and other services smoking regulations and other services should be explainedshould be explained

Transfers…Transfers…

Done for variety of reasons…Done for variety of reasons…

changechange in patient’s condition, or in patient’s condition, or patient’s requestpatient’s request

Agency policy must be followed and Agency policy must be followed and the reason should be explained to the reason should be explained to the patient and family.the patient and family.

The new room or The new room or unit must be ready unit must be ready to receive the to receive the patient (clothing patient (clothing and personal items and personal items must be must be transferred with transferred with patient)patient)

An organized An organized transfer helps transfer helps prevent fear and prevent fear and anxietyanxiety