VISITING A LOVED ONE or fellow church member in the hospital can be awkward. These guidelines can help set you at ease. Don’t . . . • Stay too long. Ten to 15 minutes is usually appropriate. • Criticize the doctors or other medical staff. Patients won’t appreciate hearing how incompetent you think their medical providers are. • Tell stories of others who had a similar illness or condition. • Talk too much. Ask how the patient feels, and listen to his response. • Sit on or bump the bed. Any movement may cause discomfort or pain. • Ask about medical equipment, such as tubes. These may already make the patient
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