Once you’ve settled into your room at Salem Hospital or West Valley Hosptial, you may be uncomfortable — especially after a procedure. We will help in any way we can.
The nursing staff will check in once every hour during the day and every two hours at night. It’s called “rounding.” If you need help between rounds, press the button on your bedrail. A staff member will respond by coming to your room or talking with you over the intercom.
The unit nurse leader will also check in on you daily, to make sure things are going okay and to answer any questions.
Around-the-clock nursing care is given by a team of registered nurses (RNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and patient care attendants (PCAs). They will assess your needs, evaluate your care and implement plans to make sure you are moving toward a safe discharge.
We want to prevent and/or reduce your pain. If you tell your nurse you’re in pain, you will be asked to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10. This rating helps guide your treatment.
During your stay, all medications should be provided to you by your nurse. Nurses and pharmacists are available to answer your questions.
Each patient room has its own temperature control. For your comfort, please ask your nurse if you would like the temperature adjusted.
We are thrilled to be the first health system in the Willamette Valley, and one of the first in Oregon, to bring virtual nursing to our patients’ bedsides. We understand this is a new way to receive care, and you probably have some questions! Learn more:
Virtual nursing means a Salem Health registered nurse may use a video chat system to deliver some parts of your care that don’t require someone to visit you in your room.
The virtual RNs are real-life employees of Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics — not outsourced and not computer-generated artificial intelligence. Virtual RNs support your primary in-room nurse and are part of your care team.
No, virtual nursing won’t replace in-person, in-room nursing. That will continue for most of what we do.
Virtual nursing is rolling out in limited locations at Salem Hospital. If the pilot program is successful, it will be expanded to more areas. If you are staying in a unit that has virtual nursing, you’ll notice your room has a larger TV screen with dual cameras mounted on the wall above the screen.
Never. The cameras can’t record and will only activate during specific interactions, ensuring your privacy. An icon will appear on your TV screen to let you know when the camera is on, and you’ll see the virtual nurse on screen, too. When not in use, the camera has an automatic, physical lens cover that will slide into place for your privacy. For even greater peace of mind, the camera will physically turn away from you and point toward the wall when not in use. These safeguards help fulfill our tenet of Respect for People and help us deliver Care with Respect.