How would you make inpatient rooms better?

[Email4KH]

If you could do anything to inpatient rooms (excluding making them bigger ), what would you change? Think in terms of patient comfort, nurse convenience, ergonomics, furnishings, storage, etc.

What are your pet peeves about inpatient rooms?

[Charlotte M. Davis]

Here are a few ideas for the architects:

• Bathrooms with wide doors, a toilet and/or shower with a bench for safety.
  
• Sink with tilt mirror OUTSIDE the bathroom for patient [from wheelchair] and staff to use.
  
• Two-way access to clean and dirty linen - from room and hallway for removing dirty linen and stocking clean linen.
  
• Glove holders for four sizes of gloves at the door to the room with instant hand santizer dispensers.
  
• TVs elevated toward ceiling with individual bed controls.
  
• FREE radio channels for those who cannot afford TV.
  
• Private rooms for confidentiality!!
  
• If cannot have private rooms, then adequate space between beds for a draw door to section off the room.
  
• Configure rooms so that a sink, supplies, gloves, clean/dirty access, etc are between the cubicles with each patient having window.
  
• Pictures, dried flower arrangements, quilts, etc on the walls in thin shadow boxes of safety glass that can be cleaned.
  
• Permanently mounted clocks with days of week, date, and year.
  
• Phones in the rooms that are accessible from the bed instead of the bedside table [ceiling mounted on a track??].
  
• Emergency suction, oxygen, and supplies at head of bed in hideaway cabinets for easy access.
  
• Ottomans with a single hideway bed that will pullout for sitting or sleeping

[EmmaG, RN]

We have "COWs"--computers on wheels--out in the hallway. One visitor asked me if he could get online on one of them!!

At least your visitor asked...

[EmmaG, RN]

I think every room should have it's own thermometer attached to the wall so it couldn't grow legs and walk off. That way, I wouldnt be searching for one when I need it most. And a pulse ox.. Yes, that would nice.

We had those. Attached to the wall, and the type that if somehow they were removed, wouldn't work after so many minutes away from the base. They were still ripped off. Along with almost all of our clocks, dry erase boards, shower curtains... if it wasn't bolted down, it was stolen.

[EmmaG, RN]

I completely agree about having more outlets at waist level. I worked at one hospital that had computers in every room to chart on but, they were located at a level where you had to stand to do your charting. So, working a twelve hour shift there was NO chance to sit down and do charting, only standing. My legs were killing me by the end of the shift...NURSES should be included in the design of medical facilities!!!

The last hospital I worked in was awesome; they had built a new patient care area and nurses were included in designing the patient rooms. All privates. Sinks as you entered the room, as well as in the patient bathroom. Pull down shower chairs, level flooring, wide bathroom doors and LARGE bathrooms with plenty of room for equipment and to move around in. Plenty of outlets within easy reach. Fully equipped with dual suctions, O2, air, etc. Nurse-servers with access from the hall and in the room--- the servers included all supplies, linens and such--- and two locking cabinets. One for all the patient's meds (with exception of narcs or those needing refrigeration; pharmacy stocked these cabinets every day) and the other for syringes, needles and other stuff needing lockup. There was a built in couch that folded down into a bed. Windows that tilted out. Nice flooring--- with padding. The rooms themselves were huge. The only thing they forgot was to make the doorways into the rooms bigger lol. Every 3, 4, or 5 rooms would have an alcove in the hall with 2 computers and cabinets for charts. Two completely stocked med rooms, each with a pyxis on each end of the floor. A centrally located supply room. Large storage areas. Large closets with double doors where empty tray carts would be parked by dietary.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but you get the idea. The downside to this design was that the floor was HUGE. But it was designed in such a way that you really did less walking than on most conventional floors. However, there was little contact with other staff--- you were in your own little alcove. We carried cell phones to contact each other if necessary.

[Pompom]

1. All rooms should be private ! (no more isolation issues)

2. A large shelf for nurses to write on or prepare medicine

3. Large red bins for contanimated items

4. Plenty of plugs within easy reach

5. Good lighting

6. Raised toilet seats with secure grab bars

7. Sensor sink so you don't have to touch knobs to turn water on or off

8. Storage for patient items with a lock for security

9. Large needle disposable boxes in convenient locations

10. Glove storage of all sizes

Just a few of my favorite wishes.

[nites]

I haven't read all but sounds like heaven. Large bathroom doors, ice machine that is family accessable. Lock boxes in rooms for supplies, Murphey beds for families. How about fans for each room. I work on a resp. floor and every one wants a fan. Would save time and energy if they were in the room. Could be attached to the panal above the bed. I also agree with 2 o2 set ups.

Enjoyed reading the wish lists

[Kylisa02]

a nurse server station w/ supplies, even a small drawer would do. Things such as normal saline for flushes, 2x2's, all the small attachments for IV tubing etc.

[Kylisa02]

Oh yessss. the raised toilet seats would be great.

[Monica RN,BSN]

i worked at one hospital that had no overhead or celing lights. the only lights in the rooms were the lights over the pt bed. i was always having trouble with iv's and foleys in women due to lack of light. i had made numerous complaints and nothing done. to put in a foley we had one person shine a flashlight while someone put in the foley.

oh how i so remember this...this is still an issue in most of the nursing homes in my area as most of them are approaching 20 or more years old!!

also having electrical outlets in easy reach and having lots of them. always a problem.

agree again. the last snf i came from did not have any red plugs or generator back up plugs the building is so old.

wider doorways to the bathrooms. wider doorways to pt rooms to make it easier to manuver beds in and out when transferring a pt to another room or test.

same again.. hoyer lifts can not fit in bathroom doors

i think that the architects that designed hospitals had no idea what it is like to work in a hospital. they also have no idea how much equipment a single pt can have.

so true

[PCU22]

They should all be private......

[class 5]

LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT please!!!!! I am tired of squinting or having to disturb the other patient in the room and turn on all the lights in order to start an iv at night!!!!!

[psalm, RN]

Get rid of the TVs...

Sharps containers easily accessible instead of in a blocked corner of the room.

More electrical outlets at waist level.

IV poles that are not so bulky.

Each bed have a BP set up that actually reaches pt. arm (longer cord).

Each room have at least 2 trash cans.