title: How Patients and Nurses Experience an Open Versus an Enclosed Nursing Station on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.
abstract: The inpatient environment is a critical space for nurses and patients in psychiatric settings. In this article, we describe nurses' and patients' perceptions of the inpatient environment both before the removal of a Plexiglas enclosure around a nurses' station and after its removal. Nurses had mixed feelings about the enclosure, reporting that it provided for confidentiality and a concentrated work space but also acknowledged the challenge of the barrier for communication with their patients. Patients unanimously preferred the nurses' station without the barrier, reporting increased feelings of freedom, safety, and connection with the nurses after its removal. It is important to consider the implications of environmental decisions in inpatient settings in order to promote a healthy workplace and healing environment for all community members.
authors.affiliation: Mona Shattell, PhD, RN, FAAN, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA mona.shattell@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shattell
authors.affiliation: Robin Bartlett, PhD, RN, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: Kyle Beres, MS, RN, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beres
authors.affiliation: Kelly Southard, RN, BSN, MBA, Cone Health Behavioral Health Hospital, Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Southard
authors.affiliation: Claire Bell, MA, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Christine A. Judge, RN, BSN, BC, Cone Health Behavioral Health Hospital, Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Judge
authors.affiliation: Patricia Duke, RN, BC, Cone Health Behavioral Health Hospital, Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duke
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063187:Nursing Stations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D017132:Workplace
keywords: acute care; engagement; environment of care; inpatient psychiatric nursing; mental health nursing; nurse–patient relationship; nursing station; psychiatric nursing; unit safety