Your inpatient stay at CHOC Hospital

This short video will describe what you can expect during an inpatient stay at CHOC Hospital.

After admitting, take the elevators to your floor, where you will meet members of the care team.

Your child will have their height, weight, temperature and blood pressure taken. These are called vital signs.

A nurse will help your child get settled into their room.

A nurse will check on your child frequently throughout their stay.

They’ll check vital signs as often as every four hours.

The nurse will also administer your child’s medication and assess their well-being.

A clinical associate will take care of your child’s personal needs. They will also bring your child any comfort items they might need.

Your room includes a nurse call button to reach your nurse or clinical associate. It’s located near the bed.

If at any time you have a medical concern that you feel is not being addressed, you can call a Family Activated Rapid Response. Press 15433. With this call, a team will come and check your child’s condition and care for immediate medical needs.

There’s a patient board in your room where you can communicate with your healthcare team. Here you can write questions for the team and be a part of daily goal setting.

Your child’s care team will visit every morning. Ask any questions you may have.

Your child may have an IV placed in the arm or hand to receive medication.

Throughout your stay, your child may need laboratory work. If so, a phlebotomist will come to the room to draw blood.

A fold-out bed will be provided for a parent to sleep in the same room as your child.

Your nurse will change at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. This is called shift change. At this time, the nurses will discuss your child’s care plan and information from the previous 12 hours about your child.

When your doctor decides you are ready to go home, your nurse will review your paperwork and ensure your questions have been answered. A pharmacist will also come to provide medications you’ll need at home, and discuss instructions and side effects. This process might take a couple hours.