Relocating a patient care unit

Nurse managers frequently are required to relocate patient care units in a hospital. Whether temporary or permanent, the move entails the same process: thorough planning, an interdisciplinary approach, and good communication among everyone involved. The stages of relocating a patient care unit are the preparation phase, the actual move, closing the old unit, and adjusting to the new unit. Of these, the preparation phase requires the most attention. The disciplines most involved with planning the relocation are nursing and hospital administration. Others that must be consulted are physicians, materials management, and housekeeping staffs. It is imperative that staff nurses be involved in the planning process early to promote staff adjustment to the relocation experience. The authors describe the phases of relocating a patient care unit and the details to be considered based on their experience at a gerontologic facility in a major medical center.