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PLANNING THE REQUIREMENTS OF A HOSPITAL WARD
Author(s) -
Read John,
Marmot M. G.,
Hamilton Jill,
Forster A. R.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb87689.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , accommodation , nursing , unit (ring theory) , dependency (uml) , survey data collection , nursing homes , medicine , psychology , geography , computer science , mathematics education , archaeology , neuroscience , statistics , mathematics , software engineering
Factors governing ward planning have been examined in the context of planning a large new teaching hospital. The varying nursing, medical and therapeutic needs of patients represent a major factor; and, of these, levels of nursing dependency were found to be the major constraining factor in a local survey. Using data from this survey, an analysis was carried out to predict the optimal size for general wards that would produce a stable demand for nursing care. An acceptable level of stability was predicted for a ward size of about 30 beds; below this, variation in demand would be greater, above it no great advantage appears till wards become very large indeed. Survey data were obtained from nurses on the implications of this ward size, and from patients on their preferences for rooms of various sizes. Recommendations include a liberal provision of single rooms, the use of team nursing with small teams, and the accommodation of “minimal care” patients within the wards rather than in a separate minimal care unit.