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
Proposal for a Holistic, Evidence-Based Intervention to Reduce Hospital Noise Pollution and Enhance Patient Healing
This summary addresses the pressing issue of general noise pollution in the inpatient setting, presenting a holistic framework for intervention. Our committee proposes implementing a systematic, multi-faceted approach focused on both noise reduction and noise optimization to align the hospital environment with patient well-being and therapeutic goals. The recommended intervention is the Quiet Time/Acoustic Buffer Program, supported by evidence-based mind-body and environmental strategies.
1. Assessment of the Problem: Hospital Noise Pollution
Description of General Noise Pollution
General noise pollution in the hospital setting is defined as unwanted or disturbing sound that interferes with rest, communication, and recovery. Unlike the controlled acoustics of operating rooms, general inpatient areas—particularly nursing units and hallways—are characterized by high levels of continuous ambien
Sources of Noise Pollution
Staff and Operational Noise: This includes conversations among staff (in hallways, at nursing stations), alarms (infusion pumps, monitors, ventilators), rolling carts, and telephones. Staff communication, though necessary, is a major source of sustained ambient noise.
Architectural and Environmental Noise: This involves slamming doors, dropping equipment, ice machine operation, poor structural sound insulation, and noise transmission from external traffic or air conditioning units.
Health Effects of Noise Pollution on Patients
Noise pollution creates significant physiological stress that directly hinders healing:
Sleep Disruption and Delirium: Excessive and unpredictable noise fragments sleep cycles, leading to cumulative sleep deprivation. This can increase the risk of delirium, particularly in elderly and critically ill patients.
Increased Stress Hormones and Physiological Changes: Noise triggers the release of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline), leading to elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and decreased oxygen saturation (Pope & Swinburn, 2020). These effects can slow wound healing and intensify pain perception.
Health Effects of Noise Pollution on Staff
Burnout and Alert Fatigue: Constant exposure to alarms and high ambient noise contributes significantly to alert fatigue, reducing staff vigilance and increasing the likelihood of missed critical events or medication errors.
Communication Errors: High background noise levels make verbal communication difficult, requiring nurses to repeat instructions. This increases the chance of miscommunication during shift handovers or provider orders, creating a significant patient safety risk.