title: Noise Exposure on Pediatric Inpatient Units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Noise is a problem placing registered nurses (RNs) at risk for safety events, decreased job performance, fatigue, irritability, and hearing loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to measure noise levels and sources on pediatric inpatient units as well as to explore the health impact of noise on RNs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive nonexperimental study with 65 pediatric RNs from 14 units. Noise (levels, source, location, and activity), heart rate (HR), and stress were measured. Correlations between sound pressure levels (SPLs), HR, and stress were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) SPLs were 75.8 (8.9) dBA and were significantly higher than SPLs for patients. Noise was significantly associated with HR but not with time in tachycardia or stress. Primary sources of noise were employee conversations in patient rooms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On all units, SPLs exceeded protection agency guidelines. Cost-prohibitive structural changes underscore the importance of using behavioral and culture modification to reduce noise.
authors.affiliation: Author affiliations: Assistant Professor, Research in Patient Services and James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence (Dr Daraiseh); Sr Vice President, Patient Services (Dr Hoying); Project Manager, Center for Professional Excellence (Mr Vidonish); Statistician, Research in Patient Services (Ms Lin); Associate Professor, Division of Biomedical Informatics (Dr Wagner), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio.
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Daraiseh
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hoying
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Vidonish
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise; D010372:Pediatrics