Ways in which a hospital patient room is designed and equipped to promote comfort, sleep and rest.

There was a time which single- or two-patient rooms were considered a luxury, something for healthcare facilities to use as a marketing tool. Today, these sorts
of rooms are becoming the industry standard with many hospitals and healthcare organizations changing to meet the expectation. It’s important to make the right decisions for your organization and patients when undertaking major changes at your facility.

There are over 35 million hospital admissions annually in the United States, and the average stay is almost five days. Emphasis on patient comfort has reached a new high due in part to the length of stays and the nature of the visits. This emphasis on patient comfort as well as the sustainability, aesthetics, and cost-efficiency of the hospital presents designers with a new set of challenges.

There are many ways to tackle these challenges. For instance, when Langlade Hospital planned to build a new facility, it split into 25 separate “innovations teams,” each addressing a different aspect of the redesign. No matter the approach you take to planning your hospital rooms, there are some practices that should always be followed. These three suggestions have the greatest impact on patients and contribute significantly to their comfort, safety, and privacy.

Use High Quality Bedding Materials

The role sleep plays in our quality of life is well-documented. Being comfortable in bed is particularly important to patients at healthcare facilities. Many spend much of their day in bed and the quality of bedding materials plays a major factor in their comfort level. Maximize the care your facility provides by identifying ways to improve the beds, from the frame to the fabric.

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First, consider the type of bed frame your facility will offer. Manual bed frames are less expensive and can be easier to maintain but they have many limitations. Electric hospital beds have more positioning options and are easier for your staff to move and operate. Other factors to consider include whether the frame has powered transport capabilities, side rails that don’t impede lateral transfers, and built in storage for important medical devices like oxygen tanks and IV stands.

The mattress is the next consideration to take. One goal of hospitals is preventing pressure ulcers in long-term bedridden patients. Low-tech features like zoning and cross-cutting are one way to combat this dangerous occurrence, while more advanced options like an air-surface mattress are also available.

The fabric is the final aspect to consider. Herculite’s Sure-Chek is a thermoplastic fabric that’s developed with a controlled-release antimicrobial system. This system lengthens the lifespan of the material by using “slow-release” technology. The Sure-Chek system periodically releases a specially-formulated anti-microbial system into the material. In addition to being anti-static, stain resistant, and odor resistant, the bedding is also fire-retardant and self-extinguishes after the flame source is removed.

Ensure the Bathrooms Are Hygienic and Accommodating

Bathroom placement and accessibility are also important factors to consider when designing a hospital room. Patients may spend most of their time in bed, but a clean, easily-accessible bathroom contributes to a greater level of patient comfort. Designing the room to be free from clutter prevents trips and falls, which can be very dangerous for elderly or frail patients.

Anti-microbial elements must be incorporated into the design of the hospital room bathroom. Due to the abundance of warmth and moisture in the bathroom, it can be a breeding ground for dangerous bacterial and viral infections. Like the Sure-Chek bedding, Herculite’s curtain material is ideal for hospital showers because it is antimicrobial, fire-retardant, mildew-resistant, anti-static, and odor-resistant.

Aesthetics should also play a role in designing hospital rooms. Colors such as green and blue promote healing, while busy patterns are not recommended for older patients or those with dementia. Herculite fabrics offer a vast range of color choices and pattern options, allowing you to tailor your hospital rooms to fit the specific needs of your facility.

Improve Accessibility for Patients and Hospital Staff

Accessibility plays a major role in the comfort of hospital patients. According to a study by the Journal of Health Environments Research and Design, patients prefer rooms that give them the ability to control their environment. These controls include being able to adjust the lighting or the temperature of the room, or being able to control a privacy curtain to shield them from the hallway when desired.

Another critical accessibility concern that has been expressed by patients is the ability to connect with the world around them. Being in the hospital can be an isolating experience, especially for long-term patients. Designing the rooms to allow patients to connect with their loved ones and the rest of the world is a major factor in improving their comfort.

This means designing beds that allow patients to sit close to their visitors and have an eye-level conversation. Room designers should also consider the patient’s ability to access and use phones or other personal technological devices like laptops or tablets. The location of electrical outlets and USB ports should be carefully considered when designing a hospital room.

Hospital room design can be directly connected with patient satisfaction. Want to learn how? Contact us today!

Sleep is one thing that is universal to people. It is a human need and in fact, humans spend a third of their lives sleeping. It is vital for optimal psychological and physiological functioning. Sleep is essential to conserve energy, prevent fatigue, and to restore the mind and the body.

While sleep is something that one falls into spontaneously, research studies and health records suggest otherwise. According to 2015 surveillance report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50-70 million Americans are estimated to be suffering from sleep or wakefulness disorder. Moreover, nearly half of this report snoring and 35% only have more than seven (7) hours of sleep on a typical 24-hour day. Incidences of drowsy driving and unintentionally falling asleep during the day have been recorded too. Truly, sleep disorders and deprivation are unmet public health problems. Moreover, it is linked to vehicular accidents, occupational and medical errors, and industrial accidents.

Currently, increasing public awareness on this health problem is a priority. Ongoing researches about sleep medicine and somnology (the study of sleep) are being done as well as increase the education and training of healthcare professionals in handling this health problem.

Sleep Hygiene

In promoting sleep, nurses are mainly involved in sleep hygiene, which refers to the set of interventions used to improve and promote sleep. Nurses use nonpharmacologic measures to increase the quantity and quality of clients’ sleep. Sleep hygiene encompasses health education on sleep rituals and habits, restful environment, comfort and relaxation, and occasionally, use of hypnotic medicines.

Individuals should need to realize the importance of sleep and its relation to fulfillment, productivity, and activity. Here are seven sleep-promoting tips nurses must share to their clients:

1. Relief for the Sleep-Challenged

For individuals who have difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, establishing regular bedtime and wake-up time must be observed strictly. Through this, biologic rhythm is enhanced, and the body slowly falls into the established routine.

For individuals who are unable to sleep, they must get out of bed and spend some time in another room. There, they can start some relaxing activities like reading and listening to soft music. They should continue the activity till they fill drowsy. Bedtime stories can relax children, holding onto a favorite toy or blanket, and a goodnight kiss.

Of course, some individuals are fond of naps. However, there are few considerations about naps. For example, a short daytime nap of 15-30 minutes can be restorative for elders and will not interfere with the nighttime sleep. On the other hand, insomniacs are cautioned to avoid naps.

2. Beating the Hours Before Bedtime

Questions about appropriate activities near bedtime hours are common. In fact, activities are one of the major factors that can affect sleep. As a rule, dealing with office work and family problems should be avoided before bedtime. It is also helpful to establish a regular and relaxing bedtime routine composed of quiet activities like taking a warm bath and reading.

It is important that one associates bedroom for sleep. Therefore, the bedroom should only be used for sleep and sexual activities. Work materials, television, and computers should be taken out of the bedroom. Having television and computers inside the room will only strengthen the association between wakefulness and sleep. Lastly, for individuals who only have the night available for exercising, avoid excessive physical exertion three (3) hours before bedtime.

Rituals can be supported in institutionalized patients by assisting them with a hand and face wash, massage, pillow plumping, and even talking about today’s accomplishments and enjoyable events. These can promote relaxation and peace of mind.

3. Setting Up a Sleep-Inviting Environment

A sleep-conducive environment should have minimal noise, comfortable room temperature, mattress, and pillows, and appropriate ventilation and lighting. According to studies, music is discouraged because it is interesting and will promote wakefulness. Extraneous noise from a fan, air conditioner, and white noise machine must be blocked out. Most people may prefer a darkened environment, but children and individuals in a strange environment would benefit from a low light source.

For patients in the hospital, factors that can prevent sound sleep include staff noise during shift , telephones and call lights, doors, paging systems, and even carts wheeled through corridors. Safety and comfort can be promoted by raising side rails, placing the bed in a low position, and using night-lights.

4. Diet for Good Sleep

For a good quality of sleep, heavy meals should be avoided 2-3 hours before bedtime. Foods that contain alcohol and caffeine (e.g. chocolates, coffee, etc.to easily fall) should be avoided 4 hours before bedtime. Both substances can interfere with sleep because of their diuretic properties. They will cause individuals to feel the need to void during sleep time. If bedtime snack is necessary, a glass of milk or a share of light carbohydrates is recommended. Heavy and spicy foods should be avoided because they can disturb sleep by inducing gastrointestinal distress.

5. Promoting Comfort and Relaxation

These measures are essential to help the client all and stay asleep, especially if an illness is present and interferes with sleep. Nurses and family members should be concerned and caring during these times.

Interventions that can promote comfort and relaxation include assisting with hygienic routines, providing loose-fitting nightwear, encouraging voiding before sleeping, and making sure bed linen is smooth, clean, and dry. Elders are susceptible to feeling cold so encouraging them to wear their own clothing together with socks or leg warmers instead of hospital gowns can help. A prewarmed bath blanket or cotton flannel sheets can also be used.

6. Addressing Emotional Stress

It is nearly impossible for individuals who are emotional to fall easily into a deep slumber. Emotional stress interferes with the individual’s ability to rest, relax, and sleep. Slow and deep breathing techniques for few minutes can alleviate tension and induce calm. Other techniques that can be taught include imagery, yoga, and meditation.

7. Medication for Enhanced Sleep

Sometimes, medications are prescribed on per needed basis. Sedative-hypnotics can induce sleep. Antianxiety or tranquilizers can reduce anxiety and tension. For patients feeling pain, analgesics must be taken before bedtime to relieve aches and pains. Other medications may cause insomnia so a consultation with the provider is encouraged.

Medications are only used as a last resort. Caution is advised on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs because they might have antihistamine components which can cause daytime drowsiness.

These self-promoting measures are actually simple but today’s indulgence for modern technology and other factors can challenge its strict implementation. There is not a more painful thing than not finding solace in an activity that is supposed to re-energize you. This is why nurses must be active in their involvement for sleep promotion. Be a part of someone’s good night sleep by sharing these tips now!