When to Call Your Nurse

Communicating with your nurse in the hospital for safe care

While you’re in the hospital, your nurse will check on you regularly. But there are times you should call your nurse without waiting for a scheduled check-in, including if you have certain symptoms or need help getting up safely.

Call for Warning Signs and Symptoms

Your medical team monitors you closely, but no one knows your body like you! When your condition changes, your symptoms may be a clue that your medical team needs to act on. Call your nurse right away if:

Something doesn’t feel right

Sometimes, the only clue that something is wrong is a general feeling or symptoms that are hard to describe. If something just doesn’t feel right, your nurse should assess your condition. 

Your chest hurts or you can’t catch your breath

Chest pain doesn’t always mean a heart attack, but it is vital to check and make sure. Chest pain or trouble catching your breath can be clues to other serious conditions too.

You are in pain or discomfort

Pain can be a medical complication. If you have new pain, let your nurse know. To manage expected pain, it’s better to stay ahead of your symptoms than to let them get worse. Your nurse may be able to give you medication or suggest other ways to relieve pain and discomfort.

You feel dizzy or lightheaded

Many conditions can make you feel dizzy, including changing blood pressure and blood sugar. Let your nurse know so they can check on the cause. 

A wound changes 

If you have a wound from surgery or an injury, pay attention to changes. Let your nurse know right away if your dressing becomes saturated or dislodged or your wound starts to bleed or shows signs of infection. These may include pain, heat, swelling, pus, a foul smell and drainage. 

You feel like you have a fever

Chills, muscle aches, or feeling hot and flushed can be symptoms of a fever. A fever should always be investigated as a possible sign of infection. Your nurse may also be able to give you medication to decrease a fever and help you feel better. 

You have bleeding that doesn’t stop

Bleeding can happen for many reasons. Whether you are in the hospital for bleeding or the bleeding is new, your nurse needs to act right away to stop it. 

A tube or drain gets loose, falls out, or shows signs of infection 

While in the hospital, you may have tubes or drains inserted (for example, an intravenous catheter, urinary catheter, wound drain, or chest tube). If a tube or drain falls out, don’t put it back in! Let your nurse know right away. Watch for signs of infection, like pain, redness, and heat. 

You have symptoms of low blood sugar 

If you have diabetes, low blood sugar can be life threatening if not treated. Being sick can change your blood sugar, so it’s critical to monitor it while you are in the hospital. Less often, people without diabetes can get low blood sugar too. Symptoms include feeling shaky, sweaty, and dizzy. You may have a fast heartbeat and feel anxious or irritable.