Nursing's Impact on Healthcare Facility Design.

Abstract

[Image omitted: See PDF.]A decade ago, only a few clinical nurses were included in meetings with architects or interior designers when designing a new hospital, healthcare clinic, or a renovation project. Typically, the design meetings involved a few nurse directors and the chief nursing officer who represented the clinical nurses. Similarly, nurses working as consultants in design firms were often used in marketing and project interviewing but did not have a significant role in the actual design process. It is amazing to reflect on the progress made in the past decade to include clinical nurses in design decisions affecting the design of their work environment and patient care areas.There are a number of factors contributing to the change to include clinical nurses at design discussions, but likely healthcare and nursing leaders are influenced by published articles and conference presentations. There are a series of articles published in Journal of Nursing Administration (JONA ) preparing nurse directors for leading efforts in the design of new facilities ([Stichler, 2011]; [Stichler & Cesario, 2007]; [Stichler & Gregory, 2012]). Several of these articles provide recommendations in preparing clinical nurses to have an informed voice when interacting with architects and other designers ([Ecoff & Brown, 2010]; [Stichler, 2008]; [Stichler & Cesario, 2007]). The growth of the Magnet® program has influenced clinical nurses' involvement in design sessions and decisions, since several Magnet® components require evidence that clinical nurses were activate participants and leaders in changes affecting work flow and their work environment ([Stichler, 2015a], [2015b]).The growth of the Magnet® program has influenced clinical nurses' involvement in design sessions and decisions, since several Magnet® components require evidence that clinical nurses were activate participants and leaders in changes affecting work flow and their work environment.HERD has also had a positive impact on influencing architects and designers about the value of including nurses in the design process. Several published articles have discussed the role and value of nurses in design, and many research, theory, opinion, and methods articles have been authored or co-authored by nurses over the past 9 years of publication. This issue of HERD is focused on Nursing and the Patient Care Experience , and many of the articles are written by nurses or focus on the work of nurses in ensuring patient care excellence. This issue of HERD also follows the publication of Nurses as Leaders in Healthcare Design: A Resource for Nurses and Interprofessional Partners published in 2015 by Herman Miller and the Nursing Institute of Healthcare Design. The new book is featured in the Book Review section of this issue of HERD and was authored and edited by nurses actively involved in healthcare design or serving as consultants to design teams. The book's 10 chapters focus on the history of nurses in healthcare facility design; why design matters to nurses and patient care; nurse-led innovations in the healthcare design industry; nurses influencing the translation of vision into reality; using evidence to guide design decisions; project organizing structures that facilitate effective design outcomes; leading and orchestrating the details for project success; leading transition, move, and activation planning for a new facility; and nurses influencing postoccupancy evaluations (POEs). In addition, a number of nurses and healthcare leaders provided insight into trends and innovations in healthcare that will likely affect healthcare design in the future. This important resource book can be used with nurses and other healthcare leaders, but also with architects and other designers in communicating with nurses and preparing them for an active and informed voice in design discussions. …