When a family member needs surgery, it usually means the waiting room for loved ones. Those of you who have been there know how stressful it can be sitting in hospital waiting rooms.

When your loved one has surgery you'll be escorted to the family waiting room. There, a volunteer is ready to help you and she will be an important liaison between you and your family member during the operation.

Hospital volunteer Marie Nassaney says, "If they get nervous and say how long is it going to be - I just call back there and find out how much longer it's going to be."

And while you wait there's a TV and recliners, but you should bring something to keep you busy like a crossword puzzle or a good book. It can get lonely in the waiting room so you can bring another family member, but try to keep it to a minimum. "Usually it's best to limit the amount of people that are here. Usually 2 family members (edit) it's not a good idea to bring little children in, it really isn't set up to entertain the children in the waiting area while they're there," says Joe Rodriguez, R.N.

Normally, surgeries take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half but it all depends on how complex the procedure is. "Once the patient is out of the operating room they are taken into the recovery area where they'll be there another hour to an hour and a half," says Rodriguez.

And once your loved one comes out of surgery you'll be taken here to a private consulting room where the doctor will be waiting to tell you how well the procedure went.

Joe explains the purpose of this waiting time is to protect the privacy of your family member while doctors give an update on their procedure. The bottom line to make your waiting room experience the best possible is be prepared.

It's also a good idea to bring some change with you, as most hospital waiting rooms have vending machines for savory sweets.