Mounting evidence favoring single-family room neonatal intensive care.

The Effect of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Design on the Distance Walked by Nurses

Background: The intent of this paper is to compare the impact of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design upon nursing staff by investigating the number of footsteps walked per shift and complaints of physical distress following the relocation of a NICU from a traditional open-bay design, where many babies receive care in one large room, and a new single-family room NICU in which each baby re...

Impact of NICU design on environmental noise.

For neonates requiring intensive care, the optimal sound environment is uncertain. Minimal disruptions from medical staff create quieter environments for sleep, but limit language exposure necessary for proper language development. There are two models of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs): open-bay, in which 6-to-10 infants are cared for in a single large room; and single-room, in which neo...

Single-Room Neonatal Intensive Care: State of the Practice

Of the many challenges facing professionals who practice in neonatal intensive care in the United States, the question of what type of facility is optimal has been debated for more than a decade. We have attempted to explore this question at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. The purpose of this article is to briefly summarize our work and other significant research findings regard...

Cost and Design Analysis of Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Comparing Single Family Room, Double-occupancy, Open-bay, and Combination Settings for Best Design Practices

Moving to a Single Patient Room Design: Are There Physical and Psychological Effects on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Staff?

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) design has transitioned away from the traditional open bay (OB), multi-bed rooms to single patient rooms (SPR). The change in design is in response to evidence that preterm infants can be adversely affected by routine intensive care unit (ICU) care and benefit from a physical space that reduces stimuli yet supports their health care needs [1]. In May of 2012,...