Name an Advocate
A nationwide shortage of nurses (there are currently 126,000 unfilled positions) means that each nurse has less time to tend to patients one-on-one. So ask a spouse, a family member, or a friend to fill the void. “The ideal advocate is comfortable asking endless questions and confronting nurses and doctors when necessary,” says Ilene Corina, a board member of the National Patient Safety Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing medical errors.

Once you’ve been admitted, introduce your advocate to your doctor and the head nurse. Your advocate can keep a log detailing the medications you receive and the tests and procedures you undergo. She can be in touch with your doctor, via cell phone or pager. Realistically, your advocate will need to come and go, which is fine. The first 24 hours after surgery, when you might be groggy from anesthesia and there are fewer nurses to care for you, are the most vital for her to be by your bedside.

Consider Hiring a Private Nurse
If you are unable to find an advocate or are nervous about your stay, another option is to hire a private nurse. Although they’re not cheap (hourly rates range from $40 to $100) and insurance rarely covers their fees, they can change bandages, monitor your vital signs, and tend to your comfort. Request names from the hospital’s visiting-nurse service, a local private nursing service, or a county nursing agency, or ask your doctor for suggestions. If possible, try to find a nurse who is already familiar with the hospital and its staff. The most important time for her to be there is the first 12 to 24 hours after surgery.

Expect a Pre-Op Consultation
If you’re having surgery, a doctor from the hospital will arrange a consultation with you beforehand, either in person or over the phone. If you or somebody in your family has a history of problems with anesthesia, like severe nausea, or if you’re feeling especially anxious about being put to sleep, be sure to discuss this with your doctor or your pre-op care provider.

If a medical problem — anything from a cold to a urinary-tract infection — crops up between your consultation and the admitting date, tell the hospital and your physician. You may need to reschedule.

Gather Your Paperwork
There are two legal forms that will ensure your medical wishes are carried out.

A medical power of attorney (also called a durable power of attorney for health care) enables you to appoint a trusted person to make all medical decisions for you. The best choice is usually your advocate.

A living will (also called a health-care directive) allows you to state your preferences regarding life-sustaining procedures when you’re unable to communicate.

Most hospitals have these forms, or you can prepare the documents ahead of time (to download forms, go to Partnership for Caring, www.partnershipforcaring.org). Also prepare a list of your medications. Note how long you’ve been taking them and the dosage. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements, vitamins, and even any illegal drugs. This information helps your doctor and the hospital nurses monitor your health. Vitamin E, for example, can cause excessive bleeding in some people. Give copies of these papers to both your doctor and your advocate.

Make a Packing List
Bring only as much as you need to be comfortable. Necessities include your insurance card and any lab results or X-rays your doctor asked for. You may want the following: a bathrobe and slippers with sticky soles to grip the slick hospital floors (flip-flops or sneakers also work); clean underwear (women probably won’t need a bra); a pillow, marked with your name in indelible ink or with a distinctive pillowcase; a list of phone numbers of family and friends; a pen and pad for noting questions or to keep a log of your medical care; toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, soap, and any other essential toiletries (if you’re a contact-lens wearer, you may have to wear your glasses); a portable CD or MP3 player with relaxing music; books, crossword puzzles, a deck of cards, or other forms of low-key entertainment; an eye mask and earplugs, to block out light and noises from the nurses’ station or snoring roommates. Leave your medications at home (the hospital will provide any you take daily), as well as jewelry, credit cards, and all but $10 in cash. Theft is a risk in any public place, and hospitals are no exception.

Just Before You Go
Pay any household bills that will come due during your stay. Arrange child and pet care, of course. Prepare a list of the e-mail addresses of friends and family, and recruit somebody to send out periodic updates. The night before, take a shower or bath and wash your hair. Once you check in, you probably won’t be able to bathe for a few days. Typically, your doctor will instruct you not to eat or drink anything after midnight.