Nurses require personal space, privacy, quiet time, and preferably uninterrupted time out of the patient care area for meaningful rest breaks. Some ideal break spaces include:
- Access to nature, daylight, and fresh air (1).
- Physical access to the outdoors is preferred over window access.
- In break areas without access to the outdoors, plants can provide benefits.
- It’s important to note that posters and murals do not have the same restorative impact.
- Hydration and food access (2).
- Make healthy food and snack options available to nursing staff 24/7.
- Promote healthy food choices at eye level and make them convenient to consume.
- Provide appropriate break lengths for staff to access and consume healthy food and to rehydrate.
References:
- Nejati, A., Rodiek, S., & Shepley, M. (2016). Using visual simulation to evaluate restorative qualities of access to nature in hospital staff break areas. Landscape and Urban Planning, 148, 132–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.12.012
- Shapiro, D. E., Duquette, C., Abbott, L. M., Babineau, T., Pearl, A., & Haidet, P. (2018). Beyond Burnout: A Physician Wellness Hierarchy Designed to Prioritize Interventions at the Systems Level. The American Journal of Medicine, 132(5), 556–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.11.028