Nurses' Influence on Patient Wellbeing: Noise Reduction and Sunshine Therapy.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Experience
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Intensive Care Units (ICUs) can be stressful environments for patients.
• Patient well-being is a critical factor in recovery and overall health outcomes.
• Nurse-driven initiatives are increasingly recognized for their impact on patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe two nurse-led programs designed to improve patient well-being in the ICU.
• To assess the effectiveness of noise reduction strategies in decreasing ICU stressors.
• To evaluate the implementation of Sunshine Therapy as a method to enhance the ICU experience.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a noise reduction program targeting environmental sounds within the ICU.
• Introduction of Sunshine Therapy, involving controlled light exposure, for ICU patients.
• Nurse-driven protocols and interventions were central to both programs.

Main Results:

• The noise reduction program led to a decrease in ambient noise levels.
• Sunshine Therapy was associated with positive patient-reported outcomes.
• Both initiatives demonstrated the potential for nurse-led interventions to mitigate ICU stressors.

Conclusions:

• Nurse-driven programs can effectively improve patient well-being in the ICU.
• Targeting environmental stressors like noise and implementing therapeutic light interventions can enhance the patient experience.
• Further research is warranted to quantify the long-term benefits of these interventions.