Addressing Communication Challenges Related to Nursing Unit Design

Abstract

When nurses transition from a centralized nursing unit to a decentralized nursing unit, significant workflow changes can occur. A literature review identified four significant themes related to the transition to a decentralized unit. These themes are challenges with collaboration and teamwork, decreased nurse work efficiency, improvement to patient outcomes, and the importance of nurses’ role in departmental design. Additionally, literature related to the efficacy of electronic communication systems for bedside nursing staff was reviewed. The aim of this scholarly project is to propose a quality improvement intervention to increase nurse usage of clinical phones in an intermediate care unit (IMCU) to help with communication challenges caused by the transition to a decentralized nursing unit. By improving communication through use of the phones, nurses will be able to deliver care more efficiently and enhance communication with other members of the multidisciplinary care team. This quality improvement project falls within the scope of the Clinical Nurse Leader, and has the potential to improve job satisfaction for nurses, as well as provide a safer care environment for patients.