Enhancing safety with facility design

Hospitals should be safe havens of healing for patients, families, and staff, and yet, the findings indicate that hospital environments contribute to increased stress levels, frustration, fatigue, injury, and error. Although the science of evidence-based design is relatively new, there is growing support to substantiate that specific design features can improve safety outcomes for patients and staff. It is critical that nurse leaders involve themselves and those at the point of service in design decisions that have the potential to impact nursing practice and patient outcomes for many years. Each design alternative should be carefully considered with safety as the first priority.