Critical care nursing quarterly
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Hospitals are planning and designing new environments to accommodate a greater concentration of critically ill patients and to permit the installation of sophisticated technology required for the care of this high-acuity population. A serious nursing shortage, customer demands for privacy and personal amenities, and cost constraints pose numerous problems in planning and design processes. The flexible, acuity-adaptable room concept has been introduced as a platform for changing care processes to achieve a cost-effective care model that fosters nursing efficiency and increased customer satisfaction.
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The task of designing a new critical care unit is best accomplished with the input of people representing multiple disciplines including architects, engineers, physicians, nurses, and equipment manufacturers. It is imperative that the critical care nursing staff and management take an active role in planning the layout of the unit and patient rooms, as the nurses will be the bedside providers 24 hours a day. The new unit should be designed to offer efficient patient care as well as a healing, comfortable environment for both the patients and their families.