Decentralized nursing units may hurt collaboration

Decentralized nursing unit put nurses closer to the patients and can eliminate visibility issues


A recent study has suggested that decentralized nursing units, designed to put nurses closer to the patients and can eliminate visibility issues, can hurt collaboration, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.

Research by the Institute for Health + Wellness Design at the University of Kansas (KU) School of Architecture, Design & Planning is looking at how hospital units are actually was running and if decentralized stations being used as anticipated.

Study authors have hypothesized that although decentralized units place nurses closer to patients, they may unintentionally isolate them from other staff, making it harder for nurses to get questions answered and delaying care as a result, the article said. 

“One of the comments I’ve heard during interviews with the nurses is that ‘we’re human. We’re not machines,’” one researcher sais in the article. “They need that human contact. They need to talk with their peers, even if it’s just to vent. It’s necessary for a better working experience.”

Read the article.

 

 



February 17, 2017


Topic Area: Architecture


Recent Posts

Disinfectant Contact Time: The Case for Biofilm Disruption

Contact time, while essential for compliance, does not reliably predict microbial reduction on actual healthcare surfaces.


Texas HHSC Reaches Construction Milestone for Panhandle State Hospital in Amarillo

Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.


Mon General Succumbs to Phishing Cyberattack

Its investigation ultimately determined that an unauthorized party gained access to certain Mon General email mailboxes on May 6, 2026.


The HVAC Dilemma: To Repair or Replace?

Healthcare facilities that keep repairing and optimizing aging systems past their useful life spend money on a problem they cannot solve without capital investment.


Department of Veterans Affairs Signs Lease for Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Kentucky

Construction and facility preparation are expected to be completed by the winter of 2027, and the first patient should be seen by spring 2028.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.