When you sign into a hospital, your world is suddenly transformed. As a patient you swap familiar surroundings and privacy for diagnosis and a possible cure. For most of us it's an acceptable trade-off. But don't expect hotel amenities, because hospitals are set up for the medical care of the human body, not for comfort or convenience. The word "patient" is apt, because you'll need plenty of patience to survive the stress and have a successful stay.

"Illness is a stressful time for patients as well as for their families," notes the National Patient Safety Foundation in Chicago. "The best laid plans can go awry, judgment is impaired ... and you are not at your best when you are sick."

(ENLARGE)

Having your own slippers can make a hospital stay more pleasant.

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A hospital advocate helps explain medical terms and procedures.

Phil Skinner / AJC (ENLARGE)

Don't forget your glasses when you have to stay in the hospital.

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Touches of home help

Some anxiety can be eased by belongings from home. Prepare by making a list of necessities and packing carefully before you go. That's what I should have done when I recently spent eight days in an Atlanta hospital. Instead, I just tossed pajamas into an overnight bag. Big mistake! My husband had to fetch personal gear I wished I had brought with me, such as special soap, earplugs (for those noisy hospital nights), a sweat shirt, and my favorite tea bags.

The hospital was busy and confusing, so it was much harder to figure out what I needed on-site than it would have been if I'd thought about it at home. Once I had what was needed, however, the comfort of being surrounded by my own possessions was calming and convenient.

The reassuring presence of family and friends went a long way toward easing my fears. They were trusted advocates to stay at the bedside, and even tag along for tests. My advocate was my husband, with my grown offspring taking turns as backup.

In your best interests

Advocates can also shield you from potential medical mistakes. Mickey Goodman, an Atlanta journalist who was an advocate for her husband when he was hospitalized two years ago, says she was at her husband's bedside "every day and many nights" to make sure things didn't go wrong.

When an ungloved nurse didn't wash her hands before tending to her husband, Goodman insisted on the proper sanitary precautions. It was a smart move. According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million Americans develop hospital-acquired infections each year, and about 100,000 of them die. "I had to be on constant alert," Goodman says. "Hospitals shouldn't be like that, but it's sometimes a reality."

To cope with reality, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on your bedside table in case hospital workers don't use soap and water. It's much better if they wash — sanitizers aren't as effective as a good scrubbing — but it's a reasonable backup.

Tape a handwritten sign next to the sanitizer that says, "Protect me from germs ... clean your hands!" The sign could also remind staffers that they have to wash or change gloves before touching you, but if they forget and you're reluctant to keep reminding them, having a sign is less awkward than asking each person to wash. Remind your advocate to make sure the sanitizer is always available.

Information comes in barrage

Connie Whittington, chief nursing officer at Piedmont Hospital, says patient advocates can also help you plow through the steady inflow of medical information and instructions that may be coming from doctors, nurses, aides, transporters, consultants, food service staff and other strangers in white uniforms who will constantly parade in and out of your room. "There can be as many as 30 to 40 people in your room each day, giving you information that might confuse you," says Whittington. "Some of that information could be stressful. An advocate can help you make sense of it all."

But lots of people don't have advocates. Even if you do, it's almost impossible for someone to stay with you night and day. For the times when you're alone in the hospital, it helps to know the name of your primary nurse and gently tell him or her up-front you'll be asking plenty of questions. Although nurses are often rushed and sometimes overwhelmed, most do respond to inquiries better than to demands. You may not understand why there is a long wait for your medications, wheelchair transport when you don't think you need it, or aides who insist on taking your temperature at 4 a.m. There's usually a sound medical reason for it all. Be tolerant and stay as cheerful as possible.

That's not easy when you're disconcerted during the day, disturbed at night and restless from the confinement of a hospital room. Whittington says it helps to have your computer, reading material, or even some knitting or other hobby to keep you from being bored and depressed. Prop up a few family photos, too. Whittington says, "They'll provide a good focal point for conversations with the staff."

Write things down

My most crucial hospital equipment, after the sanitizer, was a notebook and pencils. I was groggy from medications, so my memory wasn't the best. The notebook was necessary to record what doctor I saw, when, what prompted the visit and what was said. When I got the results of any diagnostic test, I entered the test name, date and outcome in my notebook. Just knowing that I had accurate written information about medical exams and instructions was powerful medicine in itself.

Being in the hospital isn't fun, but if you prepare in advance you won't feel helpless. You might even plan a treat for yourself when it's all over. My big moment came one day after an "all-clear" discharge: I had a giant hot-fudge sundae.

WHAT TO LEAVE HOME

Jewelry, good watch or other valuables

Large amounts of cash and credit cards

Fancy or tight clothing

Sick family or friends who might pass on their germs to you

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• To see how your doctor and/or hospital stacks up against others: www.healthgrades.com

• To research doctors and/or hospitals: www.ucomparehealthcare.com

• To prepare your advocate: "Hospital Stay Handbook: A Guide to Becoming a Patient Advocate for Your Loved Ones" by Jari Holland Buck (Llewellyn Publications). www.llewellyn.com