Dealing with a pandemic is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity to recognize the miraculous work done by our doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. These people save their lives every day. We must do everything we can to make their work easier and more bearable.

That’s why bosses insist on designing the most functional hospitals they can create. So how does this factor affect nurses, especially given that they spend most of their time caring for their patients?

• Lesser Need to Walk

This is unlikely to be noticed by patients or doctors, but in reality, nurses spend most of their time walking, instead of using the time to care for their patients.

They appear to be walking from the ward to the supply room, patients, doctors, and back to the ward. That’s something scientists are wondering, and some studies say that most nurses walk about five miles in a 12-hour shift. Therefore, the first step in improving the hospital design is to minimize the distance the caregiver has to travel.

• Restructure the Rooms

To do this, the administrator of a particular hospital needs to reorganize the rooms and group them into smaller clusters. Rather than using the traditional method of long rows of rooms, they should be circular and organized so that the nurse station is in the center of the circle. This allows the nurse to reach all patients in seconds without having to rush to some patients. It may also arrive too late.

On the other hand, you can use a slightly different hospital design approach that is equally good and efficient for both the caregiver and the patient. It consists of connecting several rooms into one huge area with dozens of beds combined. Again, this helps caregivers monitor multiple patients at the same time and respond quickly if something goes wrong.

• Establishment of a New and Improved Floor Plan

Another way to enhance hospital design and further help nurses cover the smaller distance is by simply organizing different areas in a new way. Establishing a new floor plan that is more nurse-centric and makes more sense to them is something all nurses will appreciate. It is also a great way for management to show the nurses how much they value their hard work.

• Dedicate a Place to Relax

Finally, keep in mind that our nurses are worth taking a vacation during the shift. Especially because I knew how much I needed to walk during work. Therefore, it is necessary to create a relaxation station exclusively for caregivers. This should be an area where they can stay and unload their luggage.

The nurse’s lounge doesn’t have to be too big, too glamorous, or too luxurious. It just stays there and allows nurses to feel better during the lunch break. Here you can talk with colleagues, discuss your path in the healthcare industry, and forget about the stresses of everyday life.

As one of the busiest and most responsible people in the hospital, nurses do more for their patients than any of us can imagine. For this reason, it is imperative to enhance the design and be more care-oriented, while at the same time being one of the best ways to further assist the patient.