Nursing Unit Design, Nursing Staff Communication Networks, and Patient Falls: Are They Related?

ABSTRACT:

Purpose:

The purpose of this research is to (1) investigate the impact of nursing unit design on nursing staff communication patterns and, ultimately, on patient falls in acute care nursing units; and (2) evaluate whether differences in fall rates, if found, were associated with the nursing unit physical structure (shape) or size.

Background:

Nursing staff communication and nursing unit design are frequently linked to patient safety outcomes, yet little is known about the impact of specific nursing unit designs on nursing communication patterns that might affect patient falls.

Method:

An exploratory longitudinal correlational design was used to measure nursing unit communication structures using social network analysis techniques. Data were collected 4 times over a 7-

SUBMITTER: Brewer BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6236589 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature