The Top Five Things You Should Bring to a Hospital Waiting Room

After having many experiences of sitting in hospital waiting rooms, I have come to the conclusion that there are five essential items you need to have with you while you wait.

Rather than finding yourself roaming those confusing hospital halls for a water fountain, bring your own bottle of water. You don't want to spend extra money and time going to a vending machine or hospital cafeteria for water.

If you know you may be in a hospital waiting room for a long period of time, bring snacks and gum with you. It's easier to bring exactly what kind of snack you want, then it is to be stuck with whatever the hospital has for you to buy. If you have your kids in the waiting room with you, bringing snacks is essential.

If you own a cell phone, bring it and a charger to the hospital waiting room with you. If you have to be in that waiting room for hours, and you are trying to keep others apprised of the patient's condition, you may run out of cell battery. Waiting rooms have electrical outlets so that you can plug in your cell phone in an emergency.

I have the new Nook Color and I found it quite handy while I recently waited in a hospital waiting room while a friend was having surgery. I was able to read while I waited and still had access to the internet and social media sites to entertain me. Even if you don't have a Nook, Kindle or other e-book reader, bring a book and or magazine that you want to read while you wait.

The doctor or nurses may give you information you want to write down. You may also think of questions you wish to ask the medical staff, and having a pen and paper to jot down your thoughts will serve you well. When my friend was out of surgery, the doctor gave her verbal instructions on medications, what to do if she had any problems, etc. I was able to write down what he said so that she could refer back to it when she was up to it.

Being in a hospital waiting room is no fun, but if you have the five essential items listed, it will at least be more tolerable. Other items you may consider bringing include a small pillow, knitting material if you are a knitter, and an iPod or other personal music device with earphones,