**Ventilation**

[CityKat]

Hi everyone

I wanted to see what you thought about this. I just finished reading Florence Nightengales "nursing notes" and one of the chapters in her book is on ventilation in the hospital. Miss Nightengales theory is that opening the window is very important to the healing of patients. "Fresh" air is better than circulating "sick" air. I of course believe this to be true, as fresh air is definitely important to our spirit and well being, etc. I noticed however, that all of the hospitals where I have done my clinical rotations, their windows don't open. I don't know what their argument for having windows that don't open is. Perhaps they think the air is well circulated within the hospital? Or maybe they think the patients will become sicker with fresh air or maybe catch pneumonia? I think all hospitals should allow windows to be opened. There is nothing better than "fresh" air, IMO.

[RN and Mommy]

I have to agree with a previous poster that the air in the hospitals is much cleaner than it was in Florence's day. She also discusses the drainage system and how the air would be polluted with foul drainage. I pray that in our facilities we have adequeate drainage and ventilation. We even have those rooms for TB patients and such that push the air directly out of the building (Negative airflow rooms?? Is that what they are called? We don't have any on our floor, but I know they are there). It would be nice to be able to open up a window on a nice day, but in our area we had a suicide (at another hospital) a few years back by a patient who jumped out of a window. Not such a good thing. I can't even imagine what could happen with a alzheimer or dementia patient. You know the type, the ones who scream for everyone to call the police all day and night! If they were able, I know they could escape.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I think it all depends. Where you are,the condition of the patient etc.

I believe a bit of fresh air never hurt anyone, but I take care of LTC pts in the suburbs with fresh air etc.

Funny...when I took my last child in for a well baby visit (late spring early summer) the doc wrote down on the list of instructions...fresh air. I laughed and asked if he really needed to tell the parents that and that it is common sense type of thing...he told me...you would be surprised. (here...he was talking about my sil, poor thing never took her baby outside until the doc said it was okay)