Neonatal intensive care nursery staff perceive enhanced workplace quality with the single-family room design

Abstract

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.

The Effect of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Design on the Distance Walked by Nurses

“…The concern among the nursing staff regarding musculoskeletal problems of the lower extremities had a lower median score of 3 (less concern) in the SFR NICU compared with 4 in the OPBY NICU; however, the difference was not significant. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the responses to questions regarding musculoskeletal problems associated with the upper extremities or associated with the back [12].…”

“…Table 2 Additional SFR NICU positions supporting nurses. Activities involving equipment represent a significant drain on the typical day of a nurse [12]. Equipment access, storage, design, and function were identified as major issues to problems [21].…”

“…Due to the relevance of this information to this investigation, the results of two items indicating that the individual is concerned (7=most concerned, 1=least concerned) regarding musculoskeletal problems with the lower limbs and concerns related to musculoskeletal problems associated with the upper extremities or with the back are included in this report [12]. Non-parametric analysis was performed for these responses using SPSS software.…”

“…Staff satisfaction for the two NICU facilities was evaluated in a separate study in which staff members were asked to complete a 103-item survey in both the OPBY and SFR NICU [12]. Due to the relevance of this information to this investigation, the results of two items indicating that the individual is concerned (7=most concerned, 1=least concerned) regarding musculoskeletal problems with the lower limbs and concerns related to musculoskeletal problems associated with the upper extremities or with the back are included in this report [12].…”

“…The new SFR design resulted in an increase in area of the NICU from 2134 m 2 to 8230 m 2 . Specifics of the nursery design, staffing and many aspects of care in these two units have been described in detail elsewhere [5,[12][13][14][15].…”