On the restorative break: Understanding the role of break room design on nurse engagement and satisfaction
2023
Workplace Health & Safety
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 71
Pages 329-336
Author(s): Lorusso, L., Ossmann, M., Orozco, T., Lawson, L.
Research demonstrates that breaks are important in mitigating the physical, cognitive, and emotional demands of nursing work. It is important that nursing unit break areas are not only accessible but also restorative.
Added April 2023
Effects of Emergency Department Physical Design Elements on Security, Wayfinding, Visibility, Privacy, and Efficiency and its Implications on Staff Satisfaction and Performance
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 12
Pages 72-88
Author(s): Zamani, Z.
While it is commonly known that emergency departments (EDs) are often challenging and stressful work environments, it is less understood how the physical design of the ED environment contributes to staff performance and satisfaction, especially in the context of five important subtopics: security, visibility, wayfinding, privacy, and efficiency.
Added September 2018
Mental and behavioral health settings: Importance & effectiveness of environmental qualities & features as perceived by staff
2017
Journal of Environmental Psychology
Journal Article
Issue June
Volume 50
Pages 37-50
Author(s): Shepley, M. M., Watson, A., Pitts, F., Garrity, A., Spelman, E., Fronsman, A., Kelkar, J.
While many previous studies have examined how facility designs can benefit patients within non-psychiatric acute care settings, there is a lack of research exploring how physical environments can be better suited to promote the health of patients in mental and behavioral health (MBH) facilities.
Added February 2017
Post-Occupancy Evaluation of a Mental Healthcare Facility Based on Staff Perceptions of Design Innovations
2017
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 10
Pages 121-135
Author(s): Kalantari, S., Snell, R.
Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is a research method for gathering information on the effectiveness of new architectural designs in healthcare environments. POE can help healthcare providers and designers gauge whether or not a given design is achieving its intended purpose. Since evidence-based designs are becoming more widely implemented in a variety of healthcare environments, POE could prove useful in many different departmental contexts. The authors note that the application of POE in research focusing on mental healthcare facilities is rare, signaling a need for exploration
Added February 2017
Does Space Matter? An Exploratory Study for a Child-Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 10
Pages 23-44
Author(s): Trzpuc, S. J., Wendt, K. A., Heitzman, S. C., Skemp, S., Thomas, D., Dahl, R.
Added June 2016
Mental and Behavioral Health Environments: Critical Considerations for Facility Design
2016
General Hospital Psychiatry
Journal Article
Author(s): Shepley, M. M., Watson, A., Pitts, F., Garrity, A., Spelman, E., Kelkar, J., Fronsman, A.
Mental and behavioral health (MBH) facilities are being built and renovated at an increasing rate, but research concerning best building practices has not kept pace with construction. Evidence-based design (EBD) involves the use of research to help multidisciplinary design teams create the most appropriate built environments.
Added July 2016
An Assessment of Levels of Safety in Psychiatric Units
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 10
Pages 66-80
Author(s): Bayramzadeh, S.
As mental treatment facilities see increases in the number of patients seeking care, facilities face mounting pressure in their attempts to promote patient well-being and safety. The author suggests that there is a lack of systematic empirical studies that examine how the design of mental healthcare facilities contributes to patient care and safety.
Added September 2016
Well-Being and Safety among Inpatient Psychiatric Staff: The Impact of Conflict, Assault, and Stress Reactivity
2016
Administration and policy in mental health
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 43
Pages 703-716
Author(s): Kelly, E. L., Fenwick, K., Brekke, J. S., Novaco, R. W.
Added August 2018
Applying Lean Six Sigma for Innovative Change to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
2015
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 45
Pages 185-187
Author(s): Haenke. R & Stichler, J. F.
This case study outlined the application of the Lean Six Sigma quality improvement framework to a post-anesthesia care unit redesign project.
Added January 2016
On SHiPs and Safety: A Journey of Safe Patient Handling in Pediatrics
2014
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 29
Pages 641-650
Author(s): Huffman, G. M., Crumrine, J., Thompson, B., Mobley, B., Roth, K. and Roberts, C.
Nursing personnel have repeatedly been ranked among professionals that are most frequently impacted by musculoskeletal injuries. While research in this area has traditionally focused on injuries that occur with adult patients, the growing epidemic of obesity in children makes this a relevant topic to pediatric nurses as well.
Added January 2016
Using Lean-Based Systems Engineering to Increase Capacity in the Emergency Department
2014
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 15
Pages 770-776
Author(s): White, B., Chang, Y., Grabowski, B., Brown, D.
Emergency department (ED) crowding is a widespread issue that causes a multitude of negative effects on patient care quality, safety, and efficiency. Lean-based systems engineering, which is often used for industrial manufacturing, is a method for eliminating all forms of waste (including wasted time and other resources) to optimize productivity. Recent studies have begun to demonstrate the use of systems engineering and improvement science on streamlining processes and improving throughput in different medical capacities, but an opportunity remains to refine the application of these tools within EDs in particular.
Added December 2015
The effects of physical environments in medical wards on medication communication processes affecting patient safety
2014
Health & Place
Journal Article
Author(s): Liu, W., Manias, E., Gerdtz, M.
The physical environment of a hospital has a wide range of effects on the quality of care administered to patients. In the context of medication distribution, seamless communication among healthcare professionals of different backgrounds is imperative, and in many cases the physical environment itself can have positive or negative effects on this complex process.
Added November 2014
Patient Safety in the Cardiac Operating Room: Human Factors and Teamwork A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
2013
Circulation
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 128
Pages 1139-1169
Author(s): Wahr, J. A., Prager, R. L., Abernathy, J. H., Martinez, E. A., Salas, E., Seifert, P. C., Groom, R. C., Spiess, B. D., Searles, B. E., Sundt, T. M., Sanchez, J. A., Shappell, S. A., Culig, M. H., Lazzara, E. H., Fitzgerald, D. C., Thourani, V. H., Eghtesady, P., Ikonomidis, J. S., England, M. R., Sellke, F. W., Nussmeier, N. A.
The cardiac surgical operating room is a complex environment, where patient lives are saved or considerably improved with the help of sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Although outcomes are improving, adverse events still occur, many of which are preventable. This statement is the result of a review of literature that presented evidence on patient safety and interventions that worked in enhancing patient safety in the cardiac OR.
Added March 2015
NICU redesign from open ward to private room: A longitudinal study of parent and staff perceptions
2013
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 33
Pages 466-469
Author(s): Swanson, J. R., Peters, C., Lee, B. H.
For the past 20 years, floor plans incorporating single-patient room designs have been growing in popularity, especially in the context of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The differences between private-room (PR) floor plans and open-ward (OW) floor plans have been thoroughly studied, with previous research showing how OW NICUs can limit privacy and generate other negative environmental effects for patients and family members.
Added November 2014
Effect of noise on auditory processing in the operating room
2013
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 216
Pages 933-8
Author(s): Way, T. J., Long, A., Weihing, J., Ritchie, R., Jones, R., Bush, M., Shinn, J. B.
Noise in operating rooms (ORs), defined as any unwanted sound impeding on normal hearing, can be grouped into two categories: equipment-related noise and staff-created noise. Equipment-related noise can come from anesthesia equipment and alarms, suction devices, or surgical instruments such as cautery devices, dissection tools, and drills. Staff-created noise can come from opening and closing doors, conversations, overhead pages, and music. All of these noise sources contribute to the average ambient noise in ORs, which is 65 dBA with peak levels reaching120 dBA.
Added September 2014
Factors influencing evaluation of patient areas, work spaces, and staff areas by healthcare professionals
2013
Indoor and Built Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Sadatsafavi, H., Walewski, J., Shepley, M. M.
One important element of high-quality healthcare delivery is a motivated and satisfied staff. Healthcare executives should regularly examine the factors that influence clinicians’ perceptions of satisfaction and quality so that necessary changes can be addressed.
Added November 2014
Emergency Department Security Programs, Community Crime, and Employee Assaults
2012
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 42
Pages 329-38
Author(s): Blando, J.D. , McGreevy, K., O’Hagan, E. , Worthington, K. , Valiante, D., Nocera, M. , Casteel, C. , Peek-Asa, C.
Violence against healthcare workers is a serious occupational health hazard, particularly for Emergency Department (ED) employees. Injuries from non-fatal assaults are estimated to be four to 12 times higher among healthcare workers when compared to the overall rate for all private sector employees in the United States. Nationally, only voluntary guidelines exist from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the protection of healthcare workers. The ED has been identified as one of the highest risk areas for violence within the hospital.
Added April 2014
Shift work: health, performance and safety problems, traditional countermeasures, and innovative management strategies to reduce circadian misalignment
2012
Nature and Science of Sleep
Journal Article
Author(s): Eastman, C. I., Smith, M. R.
This paper is a review of the literature related to health, performance, and safety problems associated with night shift work. The review of articles and research papers focused on circadian misalignment between the individual’s internal circadian clock and activities such as work, sleep, and eating. There is also discussion about chronic partial sleep deprivation and melatonin suppression at night. The articles reviewed include theory papers and research papers.
Added November 2016
Environmental Congruence and Work-Related Stress in Acute Care Hospital Medical-Surgical Units: A Descriptive, Correlational Study
2011
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 5
Pages 23-42
Author(s): Dendaas, N.
Nursing is known to be a particularly stressful job, and this often has direct ties to nursing shortages in the United States. Research attempting to better understand hospital nursing work environments has typically focused on social and organizational aspects of the work experience. Yet, the physical environment, which is known to impact work and organizational outcomes, has been studied to a much lesser extent.
Added January 2016
Ergonomics in Healthcare Facility Design, Part 1: Patient Care Areas
2011
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 41
Pages 49-51
Author(s): Stichler, J. F., Feiler, J. L.
Added December 2015
