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Detailed Needs and Requirements: General Nursing Unit
One security bedroom may be required on the neurology unit.
It is desirable to provide separate toilet facilities with each patient
bedroom to facilitate patient self help and to allow for greater flexibility
in room assignment; however, central patient toilets may be acceptable
in some cases. Facilities usable by wheelchair patients must be
available on each unit. It is desirable, in orthopedic and neurological
units, to allow for a high percentage wheelchair use.
2. Patient Bathing Facilities
Central shower and bathing facilities may be provided on general
nursing care units; however, isolation spaces and some additional
patient rooms for use by female patients should be provided with
individual showers. In the future it may be necessary to provide
showers with a greater number of patient rooms in order to
accommodate an increasing number of female patients. In some
instances, bath tubs may be provided in lieu of showers.
Shower facilities adjacent to each patient room will facilitate patient self
help and may increase his psychological sense of independence and
dignity and thus prepare him for discharge to a home environment.
3. Dayroom
A dayroom for the use of patients and their visitors should be located
on or adjacent to each unit. This space should facilitate activities such
as watching T.V., reading, playing games, and conversation.
4. Nurses' Station
The nurses' station is located to allow convenient observation and
control of unit entrances and exits and of all patient occupied spaces.
These may include dayrooms as well as patient bedrooms and
circulation spaces. Observation of and proximity to rooms containing
seriously ill patients (generally single-bed rooms) is desirable.
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