St. Nicholas Hospital Patients & Guests Visitor Guidelines

Visitor Policy

Important Information for Hospital Visitors

 
Thank you for all that you do to keep our patients and colleagues safe. It is important to note that we have visitor restrictions in place for this very reason. To read the latest visitor restriction guidelines, please click here.

Please follow the following guidelines before you arrive at the hospital:

  • Stay home if you are not feeling well
  • Understand our visitor policy; click here to read the visitor policy
  • Please allow extra time for COVID-19 symptom screening and exposure upon arriving at the hospital
  • Plan to bring food and beverages as needed, or plan to order room service from a patient room

Once you arrive at the hospital, you must follow these guidelines:

  • Wear a facemask that covers the nose and mouth at all times
    • A mask will be provided if needed
    • The mask remains on for duration of your visit, including in the hospital rooms, hallways and elevators
  • Use hand sanitizer to clean your hands
    • Upon entering the hospital (available at screening point)
    • Upon entering a patient room
    • Prior to exiting a patient room (or wash thoroughly with soap and water)
  • Remain in patient room or in space designated by hospital colleague
    • Visitors are not permitted in the cafeteria or in hallways except when en route to a destination
  • Please ask a hospital colleague which restroom to use if one is not available in the patient room
  • Ask the nurse or hospital colleague any questions you may have—we are happy to give you an update you on your loved one

Upon leaving the hospital, please:

  • Save any phone numbers you might need for getting updates on your loved one
  • Clean your hands before leaving the patient room
  • Be safe!

Memorial Garden

 

HSHS St. Nicholas has a lovely ground level Healing Garden located near the Taylor Drive entrance adjacent to the hospital’s Chapel. The Healing Garden is designed for quiet contemplation for patients, families and visitors. It features a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, outdoor seating, and beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Visiting Hours

 

In general, our visiting hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Special hours apply to patients in the Women’s and Infants’ Center and the Intensive/Cardiac Care Unit. Please ask the nurse for these times.


Visiting A Patient

 

Please respect “No Visitor” and “Check at the Nurse’s Station Before Visiting” signs when they are posted. If you have any questions, ask a staff member at the Nurses Station.

The length of your visit should be determined by how the patient is feeling. If you have cold, flu symptoms, are not feeling well, or have been recently exposed to a communicable disease, it is better to call the patient than visit. If you feel that it is necessary to visit the patient, please request a mask from the nurse or Patient Registration on First Floor, to wear at all times while you are in the hospital.

Parking

 

Patient and visitor parking lots are provided at the Superior Avenue entrance to the hospital. Reserved parking spaces are posted in these lots for our special needs patients and visitors. Please honor the parking restrictions posted.
 

Out of Town Visitors

 

Visitors staying overnight are encouraged to be involved with the rest and recovery of the patient. If for any reason HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital staff believe overnight visitors will impede the recovery of the patient or staff’s ability to deliver safe and adequate care, visitors may be asked to leave. Anyone under the age of 18 must be supervised at all times by an adult other than the patient. Overnight guests are not the responsibility of HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital staff.

Partners in Caring

 

A nurturing environment is important to health and healing. When a loved one is in the hospital, family members and friends can provide important support during the hospital stay and after the return home. We find that when family or friends are active in a patient’s care, recovery is faster and the return home is easier.

HSHS St. Nicholas’s Partners in Caring Program offers this support. Patients are encouraged to select one individual who will be their Partner in Caring. This person will receive a badge that identifies him/her as a Partner in Caring for the length of the patient’s stay. If you are interested in this program, please ask your nurse.

Waiting Areas

 

Specially designated lounge areas for visitors are located on patient floors and on the main floor in the lobby. Waiting areas are available for families in the Intensive Care Unit, the Emergency Department, Women and Infants Center and Surgery. Complimentary food and drink items are offered in the Surgery waiting area on the Second Floor and coffee is available on most patient care floors.

The Surgery Waiting Lounge is on the Second Floor. This lounge has vending machines, complimentary coffee and a computer terminal with internet access.

Chapel

 

The hospital Chapel on the First Floor is available to all denominations and is open 24-hours a day. Mass times are posted outside of the Chapel, or ask your caregiver about Mass times.

Condition Reports

 

Your health care information belongs to you and needs to be managed by you. Any personal information about your diagnosis and treatment must come from your physician, and that information can only be given to someone else with your authorization.

Gift Shop

 

The Gift Shop is located on the First Floor in the Superior Avenue Lobby. Please check with your nurse before bringing gifts of food, drink or flowers.

 

Restrooms

 

For patient safety and your own, please use the public restrooms located on each floor.

 

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

 

An automated teller machine (ATM) is located in the hospital’s Superior Avenue lobby.