Visitor Information

If your loved one is experiencing an extended stay at a Nebraska Medicine hospital, visits from family and friends are important to their recovery.

Visiting hours and guidelines

Most areas of our hospitals welcome visitors from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week

Visiting hours and guidelines my vary by unit or change based on your loved one’s condition or location. Check with your care team for the most up-to-date information.

What to know before you visit

General visitor hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week

Overnight visitor hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. 

  • One adult family support person (19 years or older) is allowed to visit overnight.
  • Two visitors are allowed in most situations.
  • One adult family support person (19 years or older) may stay overnight.
  • Children may visit if accompanied by an adult at all times. Children are not allowed to stay overnight. 

Please review the information below for current restrictions and unit-specific rules.

  • Follow the masking guidelines in the patient’s care area.
  • Wash your hands before entering and upon leaving patient rooms.
  • Be sensitive to patient’s need for rest.
  • Do not visit if you have an infectious illness. If unsure, speak with the nursing staff. Visitation may be restricted during outbreaks.
  • For the health and safety of our patients, visitors may be asked to provide information on recent vaccinations.
  • Leave the building after your visit. Do not walk the hallways or stay in waiting areas.

Visiting hours and guidelines my vary by unit or change based on your loved one’s condition or location. Check with your care team and review the area-specific guidelines below.

Masks are optional for: Patients without respiratory symptoms, staff, visitors, volunteers and vendors.

Masks are strongly encouraged for: Cancer and transplant patients, and those visiting or escorting these patients.

Masks are required for:

  • People in the rooms of patients with respiratory or viral infections.
  • People with symptoms of respiratory illness.
  • When requested by patients or family members of patients.

Masks will remain available at all our locations.   

Who can visit and when

Patients have the right, subject to their consent, to receive the visitors whom he or she designates, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), and other family members, or friends. Patients also have the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.

Visits from family and friends are important to the health and recovery of our patients. Nebraska Medicine defines the term “family” as anyone who plays a significant role in a patient’s life. We understand this may include someone who is not legally related to the patient. Nebraska Medicine also considers issues such as adequate rest, privacy, security, infection control and confidentiality important to any hospitalization. 

  • Only two visitors at a time.
  • Be respectful of other patients if you are sharing a room.
  • Keep visits short. Be sensitive to patient discomfort and the need for rest.
  • Visitors may be asked to leave in order to honor the patient’s privacy, provide medical care or to ensure safety.
  • Persons with infectious illnesses are asked not to visit. If you are not sure if you have a contagious condition, please speak with the nursing staff. Visitation may be restricted during outbreaks of infectious illnesses.
  • For the health and safety of our patients, visitors may be asked to provide information on recent vaccines.
  • Please respect our patients and visitors by refraining from entering restricted or private areas while playing smartphone games.
  • The family support person may switch out during overnight hours, but only one person is allowed at a time.
  • We ask that you share in our commitment to promote an environment of healing and restfulness for all patients. View our CARES pledge below. 

We are committed to creating a restful and healing space for our patients. Please join us by using these positive and respectful actions.

  • Compassion: Be kind. Offer support.  
  • Appreciation: Value everyone’s efforts. Honor individual differences.
  • Respect: Be respectful in your actions and words. Show others they are valued.
  • Empathy: Listen without judging. Seek to understand.
  • Safety: Protect everyone’s physical and emotional well-being. 

Violence, threats, verbal abuse, aggression or discrimination will not be tolerated by anyone for any reason.


Nos comprometemos a crear un espacio de descanso y sanación para nuestros pacientes. Únase a nosotros utilizando estas acciones positivas y respetuosas.

  • Compasion: Sea amable. Ofrezca apoyo.
  • Aprecion: Valore los esfuerzos de todos. Respete las diferencias individuales.
  • Respeto: Muestre respeto en sus acciones y palabras. Muestre a los demás que son valorados.
  • Empatia: Escuche sin juzgar. Busque comprender.
  • Seguridad: Proteja el bienestar físico y emocional de todos.
     

Nadie tolerará la violencia, las amenazas, el abuso verbal, la agresión o la discriminación por ningún motivo.

General visitor hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Visitors and escorts will be asked to leave if our guidelines aren't followed. 

Our goal is to create a calm, quiet and healing environment. Each unit may have designated quiet hours. Ask your nurse what those hours are. If you have a concern about the noise level in your area, please contact a member of your care team.

Overnight visitor hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. One adult family support person (19 years or older) is allowed to visit during this time.

Overnight visitors are not allowed at the Fritch Surgery Center at Lauritzen Outpatient Center.

After 10 p.m., visitors may enter through the main entrances of the Durham Outpatient Center, Clarkson Tower or the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Upon security clearance, visitors will be issued a name tag at the security checkpoint. For Intensive Care Units, families are asked to designate one family member to communicate with the nurse by phone to allow the nurse more time with the patient. For Labor and Delivery Units, visitors may be limited and will be required to sign in upon entrance.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children are not allowed to stay overnight.

Area-specific guidelines

Inpatients can have two healthy visitors at a time.

Those visiting patients with respiratory or viral infections must wear personal protective equipment.

General visitor hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Overnight visitor hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. One adult family support person (19 years or older) is allowed to visit during this time.

Nebraska Medical Center

  • We allow one visitor in the waiting room for all patients.
  • If waiting room becomes overcrowded, visitors may be directed to Storz Pavilion or Clarkson Cafe inside Clarkson Tower to wait.
  • Two visitors can accompany a patient once patient is roomed.
  • All visitors must follow hospital safety protocols.

Bellevue Medical Center

  • Two adult visitors may accompany each patient.
  • All visitors must follow hospital safety protocols. 

Visits are allowed outside regular visiting hours on the day of surgery. A special surgery waiting room is available on level two in Clarkson Tower at the Nebraska Medical Center and on level two of Bellevue Medical Center.

Overnight visitors are not allowed at the Fritch Surgery Center at Lauritzen Outpatient Center.

Guests are asked to use common courtesy and observe the posted quiet hours of 1 to 3 p.m. on all units.

  • Parents may visit any time, including overnight stays.
  • Grandparents, siblings and others may visit during regular visiting hours.
  • Younger siblings may visit by special arrangement.
  • Visitors under age 14 will be screened for illness.
  • Spouses may visit at any time.
  • Siblings may visit by special arrangement with the nurse.
  • Others may visit from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
  • Visitors may be limited during the patient’s hospital stay and will be required to sign in upon entrance to the units.

Please note: access to the following areas are restricted as part of the Nebraska Medicine Newborn Infant Security System:

  • Labor and Delivery West (level four, University Tower)
  • Newborn Intensive Care Unit (level four, Hixson-Lied Center)
  • Critical Care waiting areas are provided outside each intensive care unit.
  • Clergy may visit any time at the discretion of the patient’s nurse.
    Visiting hours are unit specific. Visitors should discuss visiting guidelines and appropriate visiting hours with the nursing staff.
  • After 10 p.m., visitors at the Nebraska Medical Center may enter through the main entrances of Clarkson Tower or the Durham Outpatient Center.
  • Upon security clearance, visitors will be issued a name tag at the security checkpoint.

Families are asked to designate one family member to communicate with the nurse by phone to allow the nurse more time with the patient.

One or two visitors may accompany each patient for clinical or procedural appointments. All outpatient visitors must not have respiratory symptoms and follow masking and hand hygiene guidelines.

How to call or write a patient

If your loved one is experiencing an extended stay at Nebraska Medicine, you can call 402.552.3344 for room information. Patient mail is delivered once a day, Monday through Friday, by Volunteer Services. 

Mail should be addressed as follows:

(Patient Name)
Patient Mail
Hospital Room # 
P.O. Box 6159 
Omaha, NE 68106-0159

(Patient Name)
Patient Mail
Hospital Room # 
2500 Bellevue Medical Center Drive 
Bellevue, NE 68123

Flower and balloon rules

Flowers and balloons can be ordered by phone from either of the two hospital gift shops. Deliveries from outside retailers are also accepted. Please follow these guidelines.

  • Live or dried flowers are not allowed in some critical care areas of the hospital.  
  • Latex balloons are prohibited because of the potential hazards to patients, care team and guests.
  • Mylar balloons (the shiny foil color) are acceptable.
  • If you have questions about restrictions, please ask your care team or the gift shop staff.

We’re smoke-free

The health and welfare of our patients is our primary concern. To ensure a safe and healing environment, Nebraska Medicine is smoke-free and tobacco-free. Smoking, electronic cigarettes and other use of tobacco are not permitted on Nebraska Medicine property.

Your doctor can provide information about the use of alternative therapies, medications, nicotine patches and counseling.

Help us guard against germs

Good hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs and infection. Each patient and visitor plays an important role in preventing the spread of germs. Working together, we can prevent the spread of infection.

You can help prevent the spread of infection by:

  • Washing your hands after using the restroom and whenever hands are soiled.
  • Using hand sanitizer or washing hands before eating.
  • Asking visitors and staff to clean their hands before and after time spent in your room.
  • Telling visitors not to visit if they are sick (cold, flu, gastroenteritis, etc.).
  • Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then perform hand hygiene.
  • Bathing or showering daily with chlorhexidine solution while you are in the hospital. 

Your nurse can provide information on hand hygiene and chlorhexidine bathing upon request.

Your health care provider may recommend isolation precautions to reduce the risk of spreading an illness or resistant germ to others.  

Your health care team may wear gowns, gloves, masks and/or eye protection while caring for you. If isolation precautions are used, you should not leave your hospital room unless there is a medical reason and it is approved by your care team.  It is important to follow the isolation precautions as explained by your health care provider.  

Everyone should wash their hands before entering and leaving the room. Information on your specific type of isolation is available upon request. 

Planning your visit?

Learn where to park, how to find your way around and what amenities are available at Nebraska Medicine hospitals.