I am not a great talker and have been invited to visit our work colleage in a hospital cause he has just had an operation on his heart. He is not going to come back to work. I know him a bit, we sometimes talked and laughed together. I will be going with people who know him much better. My question is how should I act? Of course I won't laugh and be loud but I also don't want to just sit and say nothing or only smile. He will be probably very sad but happy he would see me. I want to be nice and show him I care. But I can't find proper words what our conversation should be about. Please help if you can.
2007-12-03 06:35:36 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Please don't worry about what to say etc. Just be a part of the group! Your being there is what matters and what he will remember! At the time of leaving normally everyone says a few individual words of encouragement etc. At that time you could say something like. "The office is not going to be the same without you Sam (his name)! We are all going to miss you like hell, but I was hoping that I could stay in touch with you once you are settled at home...would you like that?
2007-12-03 07:12:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about it. I also had heart surgery, it was the most drastic surgery Birmingham Children's Hospital ever performed because of the actual problem. However, take it from someone who's been there that he will be just happy to see you there. Can I suggest you hang back, just until everyone else has spoken to him. Then approach him and ask him hows he's feeling. This will show sympathy, but then change the subject and give him some anecdotes about things happening at work. Make sure you take a gift, even if it's a get well soon balloon or something similar, its always easier if you have something in your hands. Plus I'm sure he'll appreciate it! By talking about work, especially keeping him up-to-date on all the office gossip will help him relax, make him feel involved and keep him in the loop. That will also be easy for you to talk about and it's a common ground for the both of you. Hope that helps
2007-12-03 15:02:43 · answer #2 · answered by Cinders 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hate hospital visiting; the situation is so unnatural and we are not exactly trained for it are we? But I still go when anyone I know needs a visitor because there is a direct link between the quality of the care a patient receives and the number of visitors he or she has. It ought not to be so but it truly is, the nurses seem not to really notice patients who have few or no visitors.
Just try and join in the general conversation..and take him a newspaper or magazine you think he might find interesting..you may already know of some special interest he has such as angling or whatever..or you could always ask someone who knows him better. Anything that helps him through the boredom of the day will be welcome.
2007-12-04 07:04:06 · answer #3 · answered by selina.evans 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to act normally with him. Being in hospital is the most boring thing in the world so it's nice when people come to visit and cheer up your day. Tell him about stuff that's happened in the office, maybe have a few little stories prepared ( like about the office flirt and the boss etc).
Try to make him forget where he is for a short while, i think that's the best thing you can do.
2007-12-03 14:41:02 · answer #4 · answered by gilly g 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe there is a certain script you need to follow when you visit someone in the hospital. I think you just need to be yourself and go with the flow. I am sure its not going to be this entirely sad scene the whole time you are there visiting. Honestly, I am sure the only thing that really matters to your fellow collegue is that you came to visit and showed your face that you cared. Sometimes saying nothing means more than words itself.
2007-12-03 14:54:38 · answer #5 · answered by ginluvsrob06 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heart operations are routine, so yes he will be in some discomfort, but believe me it is really boring in Hospitals and it is always nice to have visitors. Don't analyse things so much, just let it happen, it is no different to talking at work....just be natural....if there was a particular thing you used to talk about then gen. up on it before you go, so you can give him the latest news/gossip....just relax.
2007-12-03 14:42:32 · answer #6 · answered by Knownow't 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just be yourself coz if you change your attitude he may feel sad coz of his situation and try to show him that you all great full to God coz his operation goes good and he will stay among you his friends and try not to talk about the work and even if you remembered him with a funny joke or situation that you both being through that will be nice.
Thanks
2007-12-03 16:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by Nabeel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be yourself, but not so loud, as it is a hospital! He needs people who care and will lift his spirits. It's not just when people are in hospital they need people, but the aftercare when they are home. Ask if there is anything you can do when he is home, and go and see him there if you can, it may be very lonely for him if he cannot work.
2007-12-04 06:14:31 · answer #8 · answered by Thia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just act as normal and converse as you normally would...I'm sure this is what your colleague will want. Most people cannot wait to get some normality back in their lives when they have been sick.
2007-12-03 14:47:26 · answer #9 · answered by dragondrums 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Laugh and be loud if thats how you usually are, everyone else will be sombre and regretful for his illness whereas you could really make both his day and your visit one to remember.
2007-12-03 14:44:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋