title: Evaluating the impact of a new high dependency unit.
abstract: The impact of a new high dependency unit (HDU) that was developed from an adjoining ward was evaluated from both an organizational and consumer perspective. Satisfaction of patients and relatives with nursing care on the ward of origin was measured before and after the development of the HDU, and nurses were surveyed regarding the impact of the change on nursing practices. Patients' perceptions of pain and pain management was compared between patients admitted to the ward prior to the development of the HDU, and a later group admitted to the HDU. Results showed that despite high satisfaction prior to the development of the HDU, satisfaction of patients and relatives improved on the ward after the development of the HDU. Nurses in both areas also described higher satisfaction levels after the change. Patients admitted to the HDU expressed higher levels of satisfaction with nurses' response to analgesia requests and clinical data showed a trend toward lower pain scores in this group compared with pre-HDU patients. The HDU was found to be effective in providing high level care and monitoring for a group of patients at risk of postoperative complications. It was also associated with additional benefits in the running of the adjacent ward.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Kiele
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayburn
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Irish
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikoletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management