Sharing Your Room
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It is common to share your hospital room with another patient. When sharing a room with someone else, you may see or hear things in your room that are not related to your care. This handout answers some common questions you may have about sharing your room. |
Will I ever share a room with a patient who has an illness that I could catch?No. Any patients with illnesses others may catch will be put in a room by themselves. |
Who can use the bathroom in my room?The bathroom in a double room is for the patients' use only. We have family bathrooms on the unit for parents, caregivers and visitors. There are also bathrooms and showers in the Family Resource Center on level 7. |
Can I help the other patient in my room?If the other patient in your room is crying or needs help, call your nurse. Please do not help them yourself. |
Why does the healthcare team sometimes wear a blue gown when they enter my room?The blue gown you may see the nurse wearing is known as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the medical team wears it to keep everyone safe. Some medications and bodily waste can be harmful to people who handle them on a regular basis. We call these medicines “hazardous medications” or “hazardous drugs.” These medications are handled in a special way known as “hazardous drug precautions,” identified by a yellow sticker on the door. |
If my roommate is on hazardous drug precautions, do I need to wear PPE too?No. The reason that nurses wear the PPE is because they handle the hazardous drugs and waste often, and this kind of repeated contact can be harmful to their health. You and your visitors are not at risk of coming into contact with the medications. |
Is it still safe to share a bathroom if my roommate is on hazardous drug precautions?Yes. The bathrooms are cleaned often, and body fluids or waste from patients who are on hazardous drug precautions go into a separate trash container. |
Is my personal information being protected when I share a room?While you are receiving care at Seattle Children’s Hospital, doctors, nurses and others create and receive information about you, your health history and treatment. We follow safety and privacy practices to protect your health information. You have the right to ask us to tell you about health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. If you have questions, speak with your nurse. |
Can I still have visitors to my room?Yes. Parents, caregivers, and visitors are welcome to your room. See your unit brochure for complete visitation guidelines. |
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To Learn More Ask your nurse. Free Interpreter Services
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