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Rethinking the intensive care environment: considering nature in nursing practice
Author(s) -
Minton Claire,
Batten Lesley
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.13069
Subject(s) - nursing , psychological intervention , intensive care , stressor , intensive care unit , relevance (law) , critical care nursing , nursing care , medicine , nursing interventions classification , psychology , health care , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Aims and objectives With consideration of an environmental concept, this paper explores evidence related to the negative impacts of the intensive care unit environment on patient outcomes and explores the potential counteracting benefits of ‘nature‐based’ nursing interventions as a way to improve care outcomes. Background The impact of the environment in which a patient is nursed has long been recognised as one determinant in patient outcomes. Whilst the contemporary intensive care unit environment contains many features that support the provision of the intensive therapies the patient requires, it can also be detrimental, especially for long‐stay patients. Design This narrative review considers theoretical and evidence‐based literature that supports the adoption of nature‐based nursing interventions in intensive care units. Methods Research and theoretical literature from a diverse range of disciplines including nursing, medicine, psychology, architecture and environmental science were considered in relation to patient outcomes and intensive care nursing practice. Conclusion There are many nature‐based interventions that intensive care unit nurses can implement into their nursing practice to counteract environmental stressors. These interventions can also improve the environment for patients’ families and nurses. Relevance to clinical practice Intensive care unit nurses must actively consider and manage the environment in which nursing occurs to facilitate the best patient outcomes.