The Demand for Specialization and Its Influence on the Design of Inpatient Nursing Units: Can Standardized Design Be Done Once and for All?

Abstract

Objectives: This study explores the specialized nursing requirements of different clinical departments and their influence on the design of nursing units, which ultimately improves the nursing staff’s efficiency and work experience. Background: Specialization of nursing work is important in the provision of quality of healthcare. Most of the research related to nursing units has focuses on general medical–surgical nursing units and has not differentiated between clinical departments. Method: This study was conducted in one inpatient building at a large general hospital in China. Survey data were collected from 11 clinical departments via questionnaire, and interviews were conducted in 10 of the clinical departments. Results: All 11 clinical departments had significant differences in their evaluations of and requirements for the arrangement of their physical space. Specialized requirements were found in three areas: nursing work processes, arrangement and needs of clinical spaces, and allocation of facilities and equipment. Conclusion: Evaluation of the specialized requirements of different clinical departments would contribute to the body of knowledge on nursing unit design and has a positive effect on the development and improvement of design theory. Suggestions for how the design of nursing units could be improved to support the specialized demands of different departments are provided.