I recommend having a couple of bags. I used tote bags from LL Bean - they're nice and sturdy and can hold a lot of stuff - but any sort of bag can work. Just either have ones bigger than you initially need or bring an empty one because you'll probably leave with more stuff than you came with.
Initially, I had two bags - one bag with toiletries & clothes and the other bag with electronics. I wasn't sure how soon I'd want my laptop or iPod so figured I'd have my family keep that one in the car. Turns out I never wanted my laptop and wanted my iPod immediately, but the real reason I liked having two bags is so I could sort stuff. My family came to visit every day (thank you thank you thank you!) and almost every time I asked them to bring a few new items but never remembered to send them home with stuff. So I ended up with things I didn't need or want anymore. All of that went into one of the bags, which remained on the floor. Then I didn't need to sift through the dirty pajamas or the scarf that didn't really cover my head or the unwanted laptop or the pajama top that ended up being uncomfortable. It helped me keep my room organized and me sane. I was ALL about organization.
Which brings me to my second type of bag. You also need a smallish, personal bag. If you're a woman, you call it a makeup bag.
If you're a man, you call it a Dopp kit.
This was huge for me. Bigger than the totes. My makeup bag is a plastic-lined one I got as a bridesmaid gift several years ago and it's nice and roomy and can stand up on its own. I kept a pad of paper, two pens, a small packet of Kleenex, lip balm and cell phone in there. All the little fidgety items you like to have with you at all times, but that are easily dropped (or in the case of lip balm, roll off the table). When the brought my meals, I could just shove everything into my kit and put it on my lap while they got the tray all settled. When people came to visit, I could do the same thing. And if I was all perfectly arranged in the hard-to-get-yourself-perfectly-arranged hospital bed, I barely had to move to get anything I needed. It was also key for when I sat in the chair instead of the bed. My room was very small and so moving the tray over to the recliner was a hassle. But I didn't need it because of my lovely pouch!
If you don't have a large makeup bag, I highly recommend getting one. Not only is it useful for your hospital visit, but they're also great for travel. Etsy has some really cute ones, but you can also find them at all sorts of places like ebags.com, Target and CVS.
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