3 Key Types of Healthcare Storage for Supporting Nurses
We often talk about people first design and the benefits of putting patients and their care at the center of hospital design. However, in our effort to provide optimal quality care we shouldn’t forget the individuals that make care possible, nurses. There are 3 key types of healthcare storage that directly benefit a nurse, and therefore indirectly benefits patients. Nurse lockers, nurse stations, and nurse servers are all vital to a well functioning hospital unit.
Nurse Lockers
A safe space to securely store belongings goes a long way in providing peace of mind while at work. A nurse locker is a place for healthcare workers to put their coat, lunch, and meaningful personal items that help nurses throughout their long shift. A personal locker is a space for nurses to call their own. Considering how hectic and busy an average day at a hospital can be, the secure space offered by these lockers means one less thing on a nurse’s mind during their duties.
Nurse Stations
Depending on a hospital unit’s design, there are several ways to set up a nurse station. From the hub and spoke model that places the nurse’s station at the center of patient care to the side stations between patient rooms. A well placed station can reduce the number of steps taken by a nurse in a day, and keep a nurse closer and more openly available to their patients.
Nurse Servers
Nurse servers are ideal for consistent organization across the hospital. Every patient room can be fitted with a nurse server that is stocked the same way, every time. Making restocking and materials management a breeze. A nurse server keeps the healthcare provider literal steps away from the patients, unlike a traditional storage closet that may take the provider across the floor to fetch necessary materials.
These three elements of hospital design keep nurses agile and fresh for every patient need that may come their way. The better supported a nurse is by hospital design, the better the care they can provide to the patients. Truly people first design requires input from all stakeholders, lets not forget the most important, nurses.
