Visiting Hours and Quiet Time
We welcome family members and friends to visit patients during their stay at UNC Health Johnston.
Patients have the right to enjoy equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences and subject to justified clinical restrictions. UNC Health Johnston is committed to maintaining an environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive to quality patient care. All patient visitation is at the discretion of physicians and/or nursing staff, without discrimination and with consideration given to the wishes of the patient and any appropriate clinical restriction.
Mask Policy for UNC Health Johnston Patients and Visitors
Effective Monday, March 20, 2023, UNC Health Johnston is updating its mask requirements for patients and visitors at our hospitals and outpatient clinics in Smithfield and Clayton. We will transition from “Masks Required” to “Masks Encouraged” for patients and visitors with the following exceptions:
- Patients and visitors who have symptoms of respiratory illnesses must wear a mask.
- Certain units, practices and outpatient services may require masks based on their specific patient populations and patient care needs (e.g. immunocompromised patients or teammates, aerosol generating procedures, etc.). We will share more information in the coming days, including signs that can be printed/posted prominently in these areas.
- Masks are required in the Emergency Department waiting room and waiting rooms where social distancing is difficult.
This policy may continue to evolve as we monitor the data related to community transmission levels and workforce needs. We may need to return to universal masking for patients and visitors in the future, but we are hopeful we can further reduce mask requirements if conditions continue to improve.
Medical/Surgical Units
5:30 AM - 9:00 PM
We encourage someone to stay with our patients overnight. Please arrive before 9:00 PM if you plan on staying.
Ambulatory Surgery
Total of three visitors, only two at a time in the patient pre and post-room due to space limitations. The third visitor will be allowed to switch out with one of the other visitors.
Endoscopy
Total of two visitors at a time in the Pre-Procedure room due to space limitations. One visitor at a time will be allowed in the post-procedure area due to space limitations and privacy concerns. This one visitor can switch out with the second visitor as coordinated with endoscopy staff.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Visits may be limited or postponed due to a patient’s condition or other unit-related emergencies. Visitation is limited to family, support persons, close friends, and clergy.
Maternity
Labor & Delivery
- All visitors must check in at the front desk of the Women's Center. 12 years and older allowed to visit in all areas.
- One support person may accompany patient to the Triage/Preop area.
- Three (3) visitors plus main support person are allowed at the bedside in L&D (total of 4). A doula is considered part of the care team and does not count as one of the three (3) visitors.
- No children under the age of 12.
Postpartum
Parents are welcome to be with their infant 24 hours per day.
- Children under the age of 12 may visit but must have their own support person designated to their care and responsibility. This support person should be in addition to the patient and significant other.
- Children may not spend the night and MUST leave by 9:00 p.m.
- Visitation is dependent upon patient condition and situation. Visitors may be asked to leave at any time if the patient’s condition changes, patient request and if visitors are disruptive.
- During Cold and Flu season, October - March, the level II/ newborn nursery will be closed to extended family.
- Visiting hours may be extended for patients that deliver after 9 PM. Visitors will be invited to see the newborn and patient for a brief time and then asked to leave to ensure the patient is able to rest and bond with her new baby.
Behavioral Health
In general, it is a good idea to ask in advance whether the patient wishes to see a particular visitor.
Visiting hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM; on weekends, and holidays from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Visiting will be supportive to our patients. Staff may terminate non-therapeutic visits.
- Visitors must be age 18 or older.
- Each patient may have up to two visitors at a time.
- Visitors must present ID and sign in.
- Visitors may not bring anything on the unit.
- Visitors must respect confidentiality.
- Visiting exceptions are at the discretion of the psychiatrist.
Quiet Time
In order to provide rest and promote healing for our patients, we observe a special quiet time every night from 9:00 PM until 7:00 AM. During these hours, lights will be dimmed in hallways and at workstations and overhead paging will be kept to a minimum. The shades or blinds in patient rooms will be drawn (unless otherwise preferred). Nurses, nursing assistants, and other staff will still perform their necessary tasks, but they will do so in a quiet manner. During quiet time, conversations in the hallways will be kept to a minimum, and all phones and pagers will be placed on vibrate
