BWBR Architects, Inc., Saint Paul, MN 55102, USA.
HERD. 2010 Fall;4(1):34-55. doi: 10.1177/193758671000400104.
Additional research is needed to explore how the design of urban, medical-surgical nursing units influences communication patterns, perceptions of social support, and overall job satisfaction for nurses. Space syntax theory has typically been used to study communication in office environments; more recently, it has been applied to the study of healthcare environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the applicability of space syntax theory as a theoretical framework for studying nurses' communication in medical-surgical nursing units in urban hospitals.
The nursing profession is rapidly changing, and nurses' work is psychologically and physically intense. At the same time, nurses are responsible for patient safety, optimal care delivery, and patient outcomes (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009; Clarke, 2007; Clarke & Donaldson, 2008; Institute of Medicine, 2000; Institute of Medicine, 2004). Nurses are central to the delivery of care and act as a conduit for communication among members of the patient care team. Some of the design characteristics that create a more appealing environment for patients, such as views of nature and single-patient rooms, may not be fully understood as they relate to nurses' tasks and responsibilities, and they could be detrimental to nursing communication.
This study analyzed three medical-surgical nursing unit floor plans using two constructs of space syntax theory, and it verified analysis through three semi-structured interviews with end users.
The use of space syntax theory for analyzing medical-surgical nursing unit floor plans is complex. Findings indicated that nurses' perceptions of two constructs of space syntax theory, visibility and accessibility, did not consistently match the anticipated benefits of the floor plan designs.
Understanding how and when nurses communicate with each other could help designers of healthcare spaces create more effective environments that support nurses' work and personal health and welfare. The findings of this study suggest that further exploration is needed to confirm this theory's application to healthcare environments.
需要进一步研究，以探索城市、外科护理单元的设计如何影响护士的沟通模式、对社会支持的感知以及整体工作满意度。空间句法理论通常用于研究办公环境中的沟通；最近，它已被应用于医疗环境的研究。本研究旨在探讨空间句法理论作为研究城市医院外科护理单元护士沟通的理论框架的适用性。
护理行业正在迅速变化，护士的工作身心压力都很大。与此同时，护士还负责患者安全、最佳护理提供和患者结果（劳工统计局，2009 年；Clarke，2007 年；Clarke & Donaldson，2008 年；美国医学研究所，2000 年；美国医学研究所，2004 年）。护士是护理服务的核心，是患者护理团队成员之间沟通的渠道。一些为患者创造更具吸引力环境的设计特点，如自然景观和单人病房，可能还没有被充分理解，因为它们与护士的任务和职责有关，而且可能不利于护理沟通。
本研究使用空间句法理论的两个结构分析了三个外科护理单元的楼层平面图，并通过与最终用户的三次半结构化访谈进行了验证分析。
使用空间句法理论分析外科护理单元楼层平面图的方法非常复杂。研究结果表明，护士对空间句法理论两个结构的感知，即可见性和可达性，并不总是与楼层设计预期的好处相匹配。
了解护士之间如何以及何时进行沟通，可以帮助医疗空间设计师创造更有效的环境，支持护士的工作以及个人健康和福利。本研究的结果表明，需要进一步探索来确认该理论在医疗环境中的应用。
