The holistic caring process.

 

 

Scenario
You are a student nurse at Rush Hospital and were recently chosen to be the student representative of the newly formed Holistic Nursing Committee. Hospital leadership has asked your committee to address inpatient complaints about the amount of general noise pollution throughout the hospital.

The committee members feel this is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate how the holistic caring process can be applied to addressing the problem of noise pollution in the hospital. They have asked you to write an executive summary for hospital leadership.

You have a basic familiarity with holistic interventions that enhance the inpatient experience and promote healing, but know you will need to investigate evidence-based research about noise reduction and optimization.

Instructions
Write an executive summary that demonstrates the use of the holistic caring process to address general noise pollution in the hospital. The summary should be approximately 3-5 pages in length and include:

1. A summary of the holistic intervention you recommend be implemented in the hospital to combat general noise pollution. It should address the following:
2. Briefly describe the intervention. Be sure to support your recommendation using at least three evidence-based research articles.
3. Provide a statement of how this intervention could be incorporated into a patient’s therapeutic care plan.
4. Describe how this intervention would reduce general noise pollution in the hospital.
5. Describe how you would evaluate this intervention over time.
6. Assessment of the problem, challenges, and outcomes associated with hospital noise pollution. Include the following:
7. A description of general noise pollution in the hospital setting.
8. At least two sources of noise pollution in the hospital setting.
9. At least two health effects of noise pollution on patients.
10. At least two health effects of noise pollution on staff.
11. Discussion of the evidence-based, holistic caring interventions for addressing noise pollution in the hospital setting. Include the following:
12. At least one recommendation for acceptable sound levels in the hospital.
13. At least one evidence-based, holistic, mind-body intervention that promotes health and well-being in the hospitalized patient.
14. At least one evidence-based, holistic, environmental intervention for addressing noise pollution.

 

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Summary: A Holistic Approach to Combating Hospital Noise Pollution

 

 

Introduction

 

As the newly formed Holistic Nursing Committee representative, I am pleased to present this executive summary detailing a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy for addressing inpatient complaints regarding excessive general noise pollution at Rush Hospital. This initiative offers a critical opportunity to apply the holistic caring process—a nursing approach that considers the interconnectedness of a patient’s body, mind, and spirit—to enhance the inpatient healing environment, mitigate adverse health outcomes, and improve staff well-being. By integrating holistic interventions with physical environmental controls, Rush Hospital can transform noise from a source of stress into a component of therapeutic care.

Assessment of the Problem: Hospital Noise Pollution

 

 

A. Description of General Noise Pollution

 

General noise pollution in the hospital setting refers to unwanted or harmful levels of sound that can interfere with communication, rest, privacy, and healing. Historically, the average noise levels in hospitals have consistently exceeded recommended limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends sound levels remain below 35 A-weighted decibels ($\text{dBA}$) during the day and 30 $\text{dBA}$ at night. Many hospital units routinely register noise levels above $\text{60-70 dBA}$, comparable to a busy office or a vacuum cleaner (Akbarpour et al., 2020). This sustained high volume creates an environment of sensory overload, directly opposing the therapeutic goals of hospitalization.

 

B. Sources of Noise Pollution

 

Noise in a hospital environment stems from both human activities and equipment operation.

Human Sources: Conversations among staff (nurses, physicians, and ancillary personnel) at the nursing station, overhead paging systems, call bells, and alarms that are not promptly silenced are major contributors. These noises are often perceived by patients as invasive and disruptive.

Equipment Sources: Continuous noises from medical equipment, ventilation and air conditioning systems, ice machines, supply carts moving through hallways, and especially, monitor and pump alarms are constant sources of noise pollution (Jain et al., 2019). Alarm fatigue is a critical issue that compromises both patient safety and sleep.