#Product Trends
Nurses' Station: What It Is and Why It's Important
A nurses' station is a critical part of a hospital ward's operations, allowing healthcare providers to coordinate efforts and treat patients better.
Designing a hospital ward is no easy task. Multiple priorities have to be balanced, from being able to move patients effectively, storing supplies in convenient spots, protecting against potential chemical or radiological hazards, and having easy evacuation routes in the case of an emergency.
Just as critical as these concerns is giving healthcare providers space to work while not directly treating patients.
A properly equipped nurses' station gives providers a convenient space to fill out paperwork, prepare medication, monitor patients, and more. With all the tools its staff should need throughout a shift, a nurses' station is often the beating heart of a hospital ward.
What Is A Nurses’ Station?
Nurses' stations are exactly what their name implies: a designated space within a healthcare facility for nurses, where they can work when not directly treating patients.
Nurses’ Station or Nursing Station: Which Is Correct?
While “nurses’ station” and “nursing station” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are very, very different. A nurses' station is a fixture in healthcare facilities. *Nursing* stations are private areas where mothers can breastfeed their babies in otherwise public areas. Nursing stations are typically found in places like shopping malls, museums, and amusement parks.
Key Personnel at the Nurses’ Station
Given how critical they are for a hospital ward, nurses' stations feature numerous types of staff working at them.
Registered nurses are the most common workers, obviously, but other support staff, such as CNAs, LVNs, and hospital aides will also be present. Depending on the station’s location, certain specialists (like cardiologists in a cardiac care unit), may also be present.
Design and Layout of a Typical Nurse’s Station
Because of how important the work taking place at a nurses' station is, it's critical to have an efficient design. There need to be enough tools and resources that nurses can respond to situations on the hospital ward without overwhelming them with options. Two primary design layouts have risen for nurses' stations: centralized and decentralized.
Centralized Nurses’ Stations
A centralized nurses' station is located at the center of its unit or ward. This is often for regulatory compliance; in California for example, each station can handle up to 60 beds and cannot be more than 150 feet from the furthest.
From this location, nurses have an easier time monitoring patients and reaching them if an emergency occurs. The station will typically be arranged in a circular or semi-circular fashion, giving nurses a clear view of the unit.
The greatest advantage of centralized stations is that they make it easier for patients, visitors, or other providers to find a nurse if a situation develops. If a nurse needs to leave the station, they can bring a computer with them by using a workstation on wheels cart.
Decentralized Nurses’ Station
Decentralized nurses' stations spread the equipment and infrastructure of a nurses' station across several points on the floor or ward. These stations will typically feature a medical computer on a wall mount and a small cabinet to store supplies in.
Decentralized stations are typically located in hallways or alcoves outside a centralized station’s view. They are often placed between two patient rooms, letting nurses assigned to that station monitor patients within the rooms and react more quickly in an emergency.
Decentralized stations allow nurses to cover more ground and work with unconventional floor plans, but they are not as well equipped as centralized stations. Nurses also sometimes complain that they feel isolated and unable to communicate with their peers while working at decentralized stations.
Enclosed or Open Nurses’ Stations?
Most nurses’ stations feature an “open” design, meaning there are no physical barriers like walls or windows between nurses, visitors, and patients.
However, some stations in high-risk areas, such as psychiatric wards, implement protective measures like walls and plexiglass windows to prevent patients from reaching staff. This protects nurses from physical assault and keeps patients from interfering with their workflow.
While enclosed nurses’ stations are undeniably safer for staff, disadvantages exist.
They limit nurses’ visibility, making it harder to monitor patients in their rooms.
They can send the wrong message, implying that patients or visitors are dangerous to the staff.
Whether a nurses’ station is open or enclosed will often depend on the size and specialty of the facility in question, the regulations for workplace safety in the area, and patients’ mental acuity.
Typical Nurses’ Station Equipment
Nurses’ stations come fully equipped with all the tools and resources staff need, such as:
Computers and Workstations: Medical-grade computers and tablets are used to access electronic health records (EHRs), patient charts, and other digital healthcare systems. These devices should be designed specifically for healthcare settings rather than off-the-shelf consumer-grade options.
Printers and Scanners: These devices process paper documents like patient records, medication orders, and other essential paperwork. They should be able to print in high resolution, in both black and white and in color, and require minimal maintenance.
Telephones and Intercoms: Communication tools allowing nurses to contact other parts of the hospital or off-site are critical, especially during an emergency. For these tools, call quality is essential for sharing information without any transmission errors.
Patient Monitoring Systems: Tracking vital signs, alarms, and other data from patient monitors is critical. This allows nurses to keep an eye on their patients’ conditions while focusing on other tasks.
Emergency Equipment: Every nurses’ station should have a crash cart with life-saving equipment and medications such as defibrillators, epinephrine, valve masks, and more. This allows nurses to respond to any medical emergencies their patients have quickly.
Medical Supplies and Storage: Aside from emergency equipment, nurses’ stations should have a stock of supplies for day-to-day usage. Cabinets, shelves, and storage units allow nurses to keep supplies organized while not in use.
Whiteboards and Bulletin Boards: While many hospitals now use digital work assignment and care planning tools, physical boards are still popular for displaying patient information and station announcements.
Furniture: Lastly, nurses need chairs or stools to sit on while working to spend some time off their feet.
Selecting the Right Equipment for Your Nurses’ Station
Delivering better patient care and keeping staff safe relies on having the right equipment. When shopping for supplies and tools, keep these priorities in mind:
Workflow and Ergonomics: Hospital equipment is supposed to enhance a provider’s workflow, not impede it. If equipment is cumbersome, slow, or difficult to use, there is probably a better choice. Ergonomically friendly decisions like adjustable chairs and workstations help ensure staff are comfortable and productive during their shift.
Technology Integration: When choosing a new piece of equipment, ensure it will work seamlessly with your hospital’s pre-existing infrastructure. This includes EHR system compatibility, working alongside communication tools, and other digital healthcare programs.
Security and Privacy: Healthcare groups are obligated to protect patients’ safety and privacy as best as possible. This includes digital security features like encrypting patient files and physical security features like privacy filters that block prying eyes from peeking at screens.
Scalability: An essential component of healthcare equipment is its ability to scale and accommodate changes in patient volume and service expansion. For example, can a patient monitoring system track 50 patients as quickly as it does five?
Ease of Maintenance and Reliability: Hospitals cannot afford to halt operations due to broken-down equipment. Choosing fanless cooling for medical-grade computers eliminates moving parts and ensures better reliability. In addition, hospital equipment must be constantly disinfected to prevent the spread of pathogens. Electronics should be rated IP65 to protect internal components from dust, water, or cleaning agents leaking through the casing.
Regulatory Compliance: Any electronic equipment used in a medical setting must meet regulatory requirements like IEC 60601 to protect the patient and user from electrical shocks.
Empower Your Nurse Stations With Cybernet
With the right equipment and staff, a nurses' station can help deliver better care and better results, leading to a more successful and effective hospital.