The nursing personnel of the Clay County Medical Center strive to provide you with safe, quality and satisfying personal care. Your nursing care is planned and provided by a staff of professional registered nurses with guidance of your physician. The licensed practical nurses and nursing aides are also members of the nursing team working directly under the supervision of a registered nurse. We encourage you and your family to be an active participant in the planning of your care. Please feel free to ask the nurse to explain any aspect of your care that you do not fully understand.

The Clay County Medical Center provides services to help you and your family when you are ready to go home. Our Social Service/Discharge Planning Team works for you to assist in making arrangements when you leave the medical center. Our team evaluates your needs when you are first admitted to the medical center and works with you and your physician in acquiring home medical supplies and equipment, making arrangements for additional home assistance and alternative care planning. Our staff has put together a strong reference list of community services available to help you when you leave the medical center.

Your physician and/or the medical center staff may believe it is in your best interest for placement in isolation precautions as part of your treatment. This would be to reduce your risk, or other patients, from an infection. There are several different types of isolation and precautions necessary. If this becomes necessary, the staff will visit with you and a sign may be placed on your room door asking your visitors to visit with the nurse prior to entering your room.

To call your nurse, please push the button on the signal device. When you push the button, it turns on a signal light outside your room and also one at the nurses' station. The personnel at the nurses' station may answer your call by use of a room speaker or by coming to your room.

Your bed is probably higher and narrower than the one your are used to at home. It is designed to permit doctors and nurses to care for you more conveniently and comfortably. It may also be adjusted in various positions to increase your comfort. Do not get out of bed without staff assistance unless you have been told by the nurse or physician you can. Use the call-light to obtain help if you need to get out of bed. Many of our beds are designed to automatically alert nursing staff if you attempt to get up unassisted.

Your bed is equipped with side rails. The rails will be kept in the raised position for your safety, except when staff are providing care. Please do not try to lower the rails or climb over them. Ask for help if you need it. If you prefer to have the side rails left down, then you need to visit with your nurse and a "Side Rail Release" must be signed.

Please do not try to get into or out of wheelchairs alone. Our policies require that we assist you with walking and getting in and out of bed or the chair. Unless you have been told you can perform those tasks unassisted, then please use your call-light when you need assistance.

Providing a safe environment for our patients, personnel, visitors and guests is of a paramount importance at Clay County Medical Center. You may perceive some of our policies or safety measures as too stringent. We can assure you they are intended only to insure your safety and not to restrict your independence or freedom of movement. Your cooperation with the staff in enforcement of these policies is greatly appreciated.

OXYGEN

Oxygen, when used, is part of the therapeutic treatment ordered by the doctor. Though very beneficial for treatment, oxygen can also present a possible risk when safety measures are not followed. Nothing which may cause a flame, spark or friction can be used in the same room with oxygen. This would include smoking, candles, friction or wind-up toys or electrical devices inside an oxygen or croup tent. Please check with the nurse or respiratory therapist before bringing items from home or outside the medical center into the room where oxygen is used.

Electrical items, such as razors, curling irons, etc., must receive a safety inspection and be approved with a safety tag by our Engineering Department before we can allow its use in patient rooms. Patients with IV's, feeding or drainage tubes and monitoring devices could be at increased risk of injury by electrical shock if allowed to use non-certified equipment brought into the medical center from home.

Clay County Medical Center is proud to provide a clean air environment for its patients, visitors, employees and guests. Smoking is not permitted in the Clay County Medical Center facility.

Patients insisting on smoking are to sign a form which is provided to you through the Nursing Department. The patient must be accompanied by a medical center staff member and/or a competent family member/friend if:

• Patient is non-ambulatory
• Patient is disoriented
• Patient is under the influence of sedative type medication
• Patient is mentally confused or senile
• Patient is at risk of falling or wandering
• Patient is at risk of seizures or syncopal episodes
• Patient is on a suicide precaution status
• Non-bed rest patients desiring to smoke will be given direction to utilize the designated smoking area outside the E.R. door where there is an emergency call system.