Hospital Wards Should be Quiet at Night?

[GemmaWella81]

Third night into a stay at hospital and I feel like killing people. There's no urgency or care given to keeping the noise down, whether it's nurses talking amongst themselves, machines buzzing, or patients having zero concept of anyone but themselves.

I think there should be a reasonable expectation placed on staff to quash as much noise as possible, within reason as I appreciate a hospital is a working environment. By 4am and no more than 10 min unbroken sleep last night I was thermonuclear with rage, and to pass time began measured the average volume and it was around 55 Db peaking at 68! How is that good for patient health and recovery?

I swear id'd be out of here and recovering quicker if I was able to get some proper shut eye. I've had no choice to listen in on a patient arguing with a nurse about getting iv pain relief vs pill form a minute ago. Nurse was saying preference was a pill as it's cheaper but the patient was begging for iv. In the ensuing back and forth myself and people in beds near me were either woken up or were clearly getting agitated by it. There'll be a consequence now as most of us are in need of pain relief (surgical ward) at some point and that can momentarily knock you out...so when three people now ask for pain relief is it really cost effective then just giving the original patient iv pain relief in the first place?

It's been my first stay in hospital for a long time but I think I remember the ward nurses shussing the hell out of anyone talking or making undue noise. Now it just seems like a free for all and fuck everyone else's comfort.

Expat it isn't safe. Genuinely. There was a case in the press a few months ago where a nurse had accepted care of a third patient (in a side room with a trachy) so a colleague went on break. That patient suicide m disconnected from the ventilator and she didn't notice. He died. The nurse was struck off. That patient would not have died in an open bay. The door was shut and the nurse didn't hear the alarm.

Where I work, if I'm looking after two level two patients, who need close monitoring, it is a worry having to close the curtains around one patient to deliver care - what if the other patient pulls off their CPAP mask? Pulls out their arterial line? Tries to climb out of bed? (We get a lot of ICU induced delirium). Desaturates? It really isn't as simple as giving patients privacy.

A couple of days ago I wasn't happy with a patient's ventilation. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. A very experienced senior colleague walked past and said 'you've got a cuff leak. I can hear it.' A quick cuff inflation and it was sorted. She wouldn't have come into a patient's private room, so wouldn't have heard it.

I was in Charing Cross last year for 18 nights in a side room with a trachy in. They seemed to put the most ill patients in the side rooms? I couldn't speak and had a sign over my bed warning I had a stent in and my trachy was my only airway.

Did a night there on a 4 bed ward 2 weeks ago and was glad I had the side room for my big stretch. The nurse kindly gave me earplugs when they were admitting a new very ill patient at 2am (had brought eyemask but no earplugs)

Apart from a post c-sec stay after having ds, I've only had one hospital stay, when I had a head injury leading to a brain haemorrhage a couple of years ago, and it was just a hideous experience due to the noise. I had an elderly lady with dementia in the next bed who burst through my curtains screeching 12 times on the first night; I had to pick her up off the floor twice after she fell, and escort her back to bed several times, often with her scratching at my face and spitting at me, as the buzzer wasn't being answered. She couldn't help it, I know, and I felt so sorry for her, but I really don't think they should be placing patients like that in a communal ward as it's just not fair on anyone and it must have been terrifying for the poor lady. On top of that, the nurses were giggling and talking loudly all night and I got an hours sleep tops on that first night. So much for needing rest!

Last time I was in hospital the elderly woman next to me cried and shouted in the night and tried to get up every night, eventually falling and breaking her hip. It was awful and nobody came for ages although I could hear the nurses chatting down the hall. Not enough importance is given to sleep and n hospitals. Bring back the bossy matrons! Nobody should be allowed to phone or watch tv without headphones at night.

What about patients who can't use buzzers, or are disorientated and it does not occur to them to use one? Surely that is not unusual when people are in a lot of pain or post operative? On an open ward, nurses can still see if there is an important issue, even if a patient does not ring their bell.

If I needed a knee replacement, I would want a private room. But if I was in again when I was really ill, I would want to be in an open ward.

I hate it. I have been really unlucky and routine stuff has required a couple of nights. Don't get me wrong I am really grateful for the care.
But the lights on all night. The squeaky shoes from the staff, the heat.
Omg the heat. I was in last summer. It
Was hot outside and for some reason the heat was on in the ward and the Windows didn't open. I was moved as and ended up directly under the air con. Awesome apart from all night listening to the racket.
And the obs during the night. Not allowed to close the curtain so they can see you. Which of course you can see them. They sit and have a chat, not always quietly. You finally drift off and it's time for the obs. But it's not, they was only done two hours before hand.

I'm due back in so now start trying to sleep with a light on.
Also downloaded loads of different noises that I listen to all night. I need more than 2 hours over 3 days. If it works I'm going be rich

When I did my training sleep was considered important it no longer seems to be. Also while I'm hugely supportive of the NHS and staff there are increasingly people working within the NHS who aren't as caring as they should be.

Surely it's much more about the Sister than the matron? Unfortunately when I'm on the wards these days Sisters rarely seem to be there - often feeding the data beast perhaps? Do they set the priorities for the shift? Big priority for the night shift surely has to be sleep.

Haha yes the heat. I had a bed next to the radiators and asked for the window to be opened. Within 5 minutes, 2 elderly patients shouted the nurses to close the windows as it was too cold! Nurses can't win, patients can't settle. Is it not possible to organise the bays better, so elderly patients are together, those of us who cant sleep and want a reading lamp on can do so without disturbing others? Not having a go, just asking a question.

As a patient, I have never found hospitals too hot. As a visitor they feel unbearably hot. Lots of ill people feel the cold.

During the summer I've experienced many a boiling hot day where the staff are melting in the heat but the patients are requesting blankets - feeling ill often means feeling cold. The windows only open an inch and no air con but the patients comfort must come first.

When I used to be a ward sister I worked mon to fri and had one day in the office doing admin. The other 4 days were on the ward. Patient surveys said they felt better being able to see sister / charge nurse on the ward. Now it seems sister does long days and have to spend the majority of the time on admin. This is why I changed roles.

Totally agree with AndNowItsSeven. Private rooms not only let people sleep, it's also the best arrangement for reducing the spread of infection - so hospitals would be a safer place. The NHS is literally offering a 3rd world service with these big wards.

Though I should say, my brother was in Salford Royal recently - new hospital - and he got a private room - brilliant. Food was inedible, but at least he could sleep and had some privacy and dignity.

What about patients who can't use buzzers, or are disorientated and it does not occur to them to use one? Surely that is not unusual when people are in a lot of pain or post operative? On an open ward, nurses can still see if there is an important issue, even if a patient does not ring their bell

You're correct in one respect, but it absolutely should not be the job of other patients (as shown time and time again on this thread alone) to be looking out for and in some cases, feeding and helping these patients back into their beds.

I agree it's not the job of other patients to do those things but when there's 30 patients and 5 staff, a patient alerting staff to a possible problem with another patient is invaluable.

I had recurring nightmares, panic attacks etc caused by my stay in hospital due to the sleep deprivation (and some other stuff, but the sleep deprivation was a big part of it). The CBT guy I saw for anxiety diagnosed me with ptsd!

I was hooked up to a drip that was malfunctioning and had an audio alarm that went off every 5-15 minutes or so overnight on a shared ward, and the nurses on the ward did nothing to fix it until the morning shift despite me having to buzz them every time to stop the noise. This was after about 4 days of basically no sleep at all while I was having an induction and then an emergency CS. I remember crying because I wish I could have reached the power cord to unplug it, was too weak to move and felt like I'd honestly rather be dead than keep being woken up every time I started drifting off. I still get a cold sweat when I hear alarms 14 months later. :/

Early on in the induction I was next to a slamming door all night, and then on a ward with a lady who had about 7 family members in all day and then was on the phone all night. The ward staff spent a lot of time stood around chatting very loudly overnight. There are a lot of relatively minor things that could have been done to make that ward quieter.

After days of listening to the constant Bing Bing Bong of the equipment, I too were going mad. However the nurse chatter and machines can be excused (it is a hospital after all) BUT other patients should be respectful of those trying to sleep.

More lightheartedly, I found the very last thing I wanted when recovering from an ectopic pregnancy was the woman opposite me listening to 50 Shades of Shite on audio. Without headphones.

I still remember trying to read a nice, normal, well-written history book while holding a pillow over my ears to stifle the 'surround sound' - and the giggling. "Ooh, is this the dungeon bit? I'm only on chapter three.."

Noooooooo!

Oh, yes.
I had surgery last day of Dec.
Day procedure, except the anaesthetic didn't wear off so admitted overnight.
Moved to ward at 5pm.
Fed at 6pm.
Put in a bed right next to a large Ward TV.
By 11pm I was asking for it to be turned down.
Near bloody riot as the other occupants of the ward wanted to watch Hogmanay TV and I was 'spoiling things'.
It was eventually turned down (not off) at 1.15am.
I wasn't allowed my curtains around as I'd not passed water.
The staff came round with a drinks trolley too (alcoholic drinks, complimentary).
Drinks pressed upon me, whilst on Oromorph and Tramadol.
Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.

The grief I got over the next 2 days (further complications, had to stay in) before the ringleader was discharged (about 'spoiling her Hogmanay') was awful. Staff did nothing and refused to move me away from the TV as it would mean 'cleaning the available spare bed).

I wasn't there to watch TV. I was there to rest and recuperate after an operation.

About 6 years ago (but still feeling scarred) my daughter was in two different hospitals over a two week period. The second one was awful! No rules regarding tellies on at night and there were Mum's of babies (so not a problem for them) watching CSI and other gruesome adult programmes loudly so that my at the time 3 year old struggled to sleep and could hear guns and all sorts! Loads of people in after hours, not one or two people like Mum/Dad or a grandparent, but full on groups of people! Lights left on till really late - altogether hideous! I hope we never have to do a hospital stint again! :0(

Sparkly - 9 people visited the parient next two me regularly - it was allowed as one of the nurses knew the family. It was awful and so intrusive.

Such awful stories on here. I was on a ward so cramped that I didn't have room for the cupboard thing next to my bed and it was moved elsewhere (full of my things). Lay there listening to the woman in the next bed (less than 2 feet away) sob while she miscarried. Every discussion with a consultant or nurse was overheard by the whole ward. The conditions on some wards are inexcusable. There is no dignity or privacy.

Thank goodness the newer hospitals have seen sense and are offering more en suite facilities. It's impossible to maintain confidentiality otherwise. Of course ICU etc will still be shared, but I honestly think I would rather die than endure the hell and stench of a NHS ward again.

I honestly think I would rather die than endure the hell and stench of a NHS ward again.

Really?

Try a private hospital then. Very soon, that is all there will be.

'Of course ICU etc will still be shared,'

ICU does have private rooms. My daughter had one as she had had an allogenic stem cell transplant and was a huge infection risk. She was also ventilated.

ICU does have private rooms but the majority of nurses feel less safe when nursing in them. You're out of sight, end up trapped when you need stuff, it's really not the best place.

get some earplugs, ASAP

to some extent you are BU. I did some nights shifts with a family member in ICU recently, and FFS if people are in pain, shit themselves- what can you do?