Objective: To compare perceived workplace quality in an open-bay neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a single-family room (SFR) NICU.Study Design: Prospective non-randomized, non-controlled cohort study.Result: Staff workplace quality perceptions assessed included the following: the quality of being a Sanford Health System employee (NSFnot significant), the quality of the NICU physical work environment, the quality of NICU patient care, the job quality in the NICU, the quality of health and safety in the NICU (NS), the quality of safety and security in the NICU, the quality of interaction with other members of the NICU health-care team (NS; in subanalysis nurse scores significantly declined), the quality of interaction with NICU technology and the off-job quality of life (NS). Scores for each category and the total scores were statistically greater in the SFR, except as noted (NS). Conclusion:Staff perceptions of workplace quality were significantly greater in the SFR than the open-bay NICU.

These data overwhelmingly support the SFR NICU in preference to the traditional OPBY facility. They substantiate that the SFR NICU should be the new standard for NICU care.

Parental satisfaction with care in the single-family room NICU was improved in comparison with the traditional open-bay NICU. The single-family room environment appears more conducive to the provision of family-centered care. Improved parental satisfaction with care and the potential for enhanced family-centered care need to be considered in decisions made regarding the configuration of NICU facilities in the future.

Objectives: To evaluate the differences in environmental sound, illumination and physiological parameters in the Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (BNICU), which was designed to comply with current recommendations and standards, as compared with a conventional neonatal intensive care unit (CNICU).Study Design: Prospectively designed observational study.Result: Median sound levels in the unoccupied BNICU (37.6 dBA) were lower than the CNICU (42.1 dBA, P<0.001). Median levels of minimum (6.4 vs 48.4 lux, P<0.05) and maximum illumination (357 vs 402 lux, P<0.05) were lower in the BNICU. A group of six neonates delivered at 32 weeks gestation showed significantly less periodic breathing (14 vs 21%) and awake time (17.6 vs 29.3%) in the BNICU as compared to the CNICU.Conclusion: Light and sound were both significantly reduced in the BNICU. Care in the BNICU was associated with improved physiological parameters.