Abstract
The benefits of enclosed versus open nursing stations are frequently discussed among inpatient nurses and hospital administrators. This scoping review synthesizes the state of the science on architectural best practices for inpatient psychiatric units and identifies gaps in the literature about enclosed versus open nursing stations. Peer reviewed articles from PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCO, and Web of Science were extracted for review. These articles were written in English and published between 2015 and the present (2024). All studies occurred on adult inpatient psychiatric units. Qualitative and quantitative studies whose sample included inpatient nurses, nursing staff, and clients were included. Findings suggest a preference for an open nursing station by clients; however, only some nurses and nursing staff may have a preference for open nursing stations. Nurses and nursing staff who are averse to open nursing stations express anxiety regarding a lack of a client-free space, and anxiety regarding staff-directed violence by clients, and fear of breaching client confidentiality. Nursing stations with a physical plexiglass barrier were reported to feel less inviting and stigmatizing by clients. The therapeutic alliance was reportedly better in units with open nursing stations because staff interacted more positively with clients, clients' needs were more promptly attended to, and clients perceived the milieu as warmer. Further research is needed to identify a standard of practice for optimal architectural designs of adult inpatient units, especially nursing stations.
Notes
References:
Lundin, S. (2021). Can Healing Architecture Increase Safety in the Design of Psychiatric Wards? HERD, 14(1), 106–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586720971814.
Mutual visibility and interaction: staff reactions to the ‘healing architecture’ of psychiatric inpatient wards in Denmark. BioSocieties, 16(2), 249–269. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41292-020-00195-4.
Shepley, M. M., Watson, A., Pitts, F., Garrity, A., Spelman, E., Kelkar, J., & Fronsman, A. (2016). Mental and behavioral health environments: critical considerations for facility design. General Hospital Psychiatry, 42, 15–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2016.06.003.
Simonsen, T. P., & Duff, C. (2021). Mutual visibility and interaction: staff reactions to the ‘healing architecture’ of psychiatric inpatient wards in Denmark. BioSocieties, 16(2), 249–269. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41292-020-00195-4.
Wilson, R. L., Hutton, A., & Foureur, M. (2023). Promoting mental health recovery by design: Physical, procedural, and relational security in the context of the mental health built environment. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(1), 147–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13070.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Acute Care, Academic-clinical Partnership, Workforce, Nursing Stations, Nursing Station Design
Recommended Citation
Long, Sydney Lauren; Bourgault, Annette; and Shattell, Mona, "Are Open or Enclosed Nursing Stations Better, and For Who?" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 174.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/174
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Are Open or Enclosed Nursing Stations Better, and For Who?
Seattle, Washington, USA
The benefits of enclosed versus open nursing stations are frequently discussed among inpatient nurses and hospital administrators. This scoping review synthesizes the state of the science on architectural best practices for inpatient psychiatric units and identifies gaps in the literature about enclosed versus open nursing stations. Peer reviewed articles from PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCO, and Web of Science were extracted for review. These articles were written in English and published between 2015 and the present (2024). All studies occurred on adult inpatient psychiatric units. Qualitative and quantitative studies whose sample included inpatient nurses, nursing staff, and clients were included. Findings suggest a preference for an open nursing station by clients; however, only some nurses and nursing staff may have a preference for open nursing stations. Nurses and nursing staff who are averse to open nursing stations express anxiety regarding a lack of a client-free space, and anxiety regarding staff-directed violence by clients, and fear of breaching client confidentiality. Nursing stations with a physical plexiglass barrier were reported to feel less inviting and stigmatizing by clients. The therapeutic alliance was reportedly better in units with open nursing stations because staff interacted more positively with clients, clients' needs were more promptly attended to, and clients perceived the milieu as warmer. Further research is needed to identify a standard of practice for optimal architectural designs of adult inpatient units, especially nursing stations.
Description
This abstract provides a succinct summary of this scoping review about the state of the science of nursing station design. This scoping review includes 9 articles from the US, Australia, Sweden, England, New Zealand, and Germany which included both qualitative and quantitative data from both nursing staff and clients. This abstract includes a brief summary of the themes found in these articles of existing scholarly literature of this topic.