Quiet initiatives - what has worked for you?

[thisistheday]

We're working hard to reduce noise on our unit to make it a more healing environment for our patients. Got any successful ideas to share?

[Biffbradford]

For what shifts?

[Hancock330]

If you haven't already assessed equipment condition and maintenance -- and I'm talking mostly non-patient care equipment here -- check on that. Do the carts that bring supplies and food to your floor have well lubricated wheels or do they squeak and rattle? Are the tires on those carts pneumatic or solid? If they're solid, is there any chance to get some kind of air filled tires (that are almost always less noisy) onto the carts? Are any doors on that equipment equipped with flexible seals or do they rattle and clang? Then, look at other "non-human" sources of noise. Do you have a pneumatic tube system? Is it located so that patients in nearby rooms must listen to it? If so, do you "shut it down" from bedtime until time to rise?

Next, where do people tend to congregate to talk? If it's near patient rooms, can you reorganize a space or two to encourage them to congregate away from patients' rooms? How do you communicate with each other and with other members of the healthcare team? Do phones frequently ring? Do people "call (yell)" to each other down the halls? How do you manage disruptive patients (I'm especially thinking of demented people here)? Can they be placed in rooms where their vocalizations are less disruptive to the rest and comfort of other patients on your unit? Do you have patient rooms near the elevators? If so, do you have signs to remind people coming off the elevators to control their noise for the sake of your patients?

These are only places to start -- and are issues that can be corrected with minimal expense (usually) and with a bit of cooperation from other departments. If all of these things have been done and you still have noise issues, then, depending on what kind of unit you have and what shift you're talking about, you may need to look at alarm noises, other equipment noises, and other people noises.

Best wishes.

[thisistheday]

All shifts, but day shift needs the most help. Ideas?

[thisistheday]

Thank you, Hancock330. All the non-pt care equipment noise possibilities could really add up! Great food for thought.

[amyjrn3246]

I work in a Peds ICU, we have set up quiet times between 2-4 pm, the big hall lights go out, we discuss with parents to please turn the TV off, try not to talk during this time, and we limit anything but essential procedures. We also have night sleep time from 12-4 am. Nursing also works to get baths, lined changes, all procedures like dressing changes done. Family are asked to turn TV off, blinds are closed. It is very hard to limit alarms, but working with MD's to adjust parameters that match the pt, so they don't go off as much. Not sure if it works, but turning all the hall lights off, makes all staff talk in quieter voices. We also don't let EVS do any noisy floor cleaning, pulling trash in pt rooms during both of these times.

[ladymacgyver]

Awareness and education is sometimes the key to changing attitudes. Great suggestions above:yes:, run inservices (and bring candy) to inform everyone of the plan and rationale.

[vandermom]

I work on a small Birthing unit. We cancel call bell in the station immediately then walk to the room. Makes for less noise in the hall and no echoing voices in the room especially for room that the patients are opposite sides of the same wall. Intercom sounds vibrate in the wall of the other room. Lights out in the halls by about -2100. Labor visitor restricted from gathering in the hallway outside a room.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

Our latest is the "No Pass Zone" which means if you hear a patient calling out or an IV beeping you don't pass by but go in and address it.