title: Perceived and actual noise levels in critical care units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the noise levels perceived by critical care nurses in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to actual noise levels in the ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a pilot study (n=18) and revision of the survey tool, a random sample of nurses were surveyed twice in a 3-day period (n=108). Nurses perception of noise was compared to the actual sound pressure level using descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses perceived the ICUs to be noisier than the actual values. The ICU was louder than the recommended noise level for resotrative sleep. This finding raises the question of how we can assist nurses to reduce what they perceive to be a loud environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future work is needed to develop interventions specifically for nurses to raise awareness of noise in the ICU and to provide them with skills to assist in noise reduction.
authors: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, United States. Electronic address: Brittany.white@unchealth.unc.edu.
authors: Brittany Lynn
authors: BL
authors: White
authors: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, United States.
authors: Meg
authors: M
authors: Zomorodi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D009622:Noise; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014894:Weights and Measures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards
keywords: ICU; Levels; Noise; Nurse; Perception